The Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo has called for a concerted effort towards creating a prosperous and sustainable future in the Niger Delta region.
Rt. Hon. Akpowowo, who made the call in a keynote address at the Inaugural Niger Delta Summit, held in Atlanta Georgia, USA, said environmental sustainability and social equity, must be prioritized to achieve the desired economic growth and development in the region.
Speaking in an address he entitled “The Legislative Roles in Niger Delta Economic Growth and Sustainable Development”, the Deputy Speaker emphasized the need for a sincere commitment that would secure a better future for the Niger Delta, saying that the people had suffered deprivation for too long.
He said enhanced economic competitiveness, improved living standards, protection of natural resources, and promotion of social justice, would change the narratives and fast-track development in the region.
Akpowowo highlighted key strategies to achieving the goal to include, investing in infrastructure and human capital, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering international cooperation and trade, protecting the environment, mitigating climate change as well as addressing poverty and inequality in the Niger Delta.
Saying that in a civil and democratic system, government policies cannot stand without legislation, the Deputy Speaker reflected on the role of the Legislature in socio-economic development, which he said informed the choice of the topic for the Summit.
“Legislation is vital in regional economic development. It creates an enabling environment, encourages investment, develops infrastructure, promotes innovation, fosters trade, ensures good governance, supports human capital, and encourages sustainable development”, Akpowowo stated.
The Deputy Speaker pointed out that the legislature was crucial in shaping economic development and creating an environment conducive to growth and prosperity.
He took participants to the oversight function aspect of the legislature, maintaining that it had helped monitor the implementation of economic development projects and ensured transparency and accountability in monitoring the implementation of economic development projects and accountability in using public funds, amongst others.
Answering questions raised by participants in response to his presentation, Rt Hon Akpowowo said Delta State is lucky to have two seasoned Lawmakers as Governor and immediate Governor of the state, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively.
He noted that the development had created sound synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government, in addition to engineering a faster legislative process.
The Deputy Speaker who represents Ethiope East in the State Legislature, said the state government is doing much to create an enabling environment to attract investors in large numbers to the state, including in the area of farming.
“The State Assembly enacted a law against open grazing in the state in 2021. Good enough, I am the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Legislative Compliance. We are determined to enforce the Law to forestall the destruction of farm crops as well as remove fear from our farmers.
“The Law against “Deve” and other related laws are all targeted to ease ways of doing business and promote socio-economic development in Delta State”, Akpowowo explained.
