By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State says the year 2020 budget will be presented in the first week of November, 2019.
Governor Okowa stated this during the 2019 Quarterly Media Chat with journalists at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba.
Okowa who stated that the 2020 budget may not be as big as what was obtainable in the past due to shortfall in oil production, said the state would concentrate on core ongoing projects.
According to him the core ongoing projects include the Ughelli/Asaba Road which is key especially sector ‘A’ and ‘C’ since sector B is completed.
The governor said work has started in sector ‘C’, explaining that by April 2020, work on the project would be nearing completion, even as he said the road is critical as it will help reduce movement time in view of the port in Warri which is expected to be busy.
Governor Okowa also said the state government created the Ministry of Technical Education because of the importance it attached to technical education. He said the state will build technical colleges in all local government areas to provide access to technical education which will later feed the polytechnics.
He congratulated the Sports Commission for the recent feat the state attained in the recent sporting festival.
“We have been consistent in sporting feats, won all five editios of youth sports meets in the country,” the governor informed.
Governor Okowa commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for working very hard on the World Teachers Day Celebration in the state, noting, “We commended and rewarded those who were outstanding during the Teachers Day”.
In the area of health, the governor said, “We are the best state in health insurance across the nation. Some are coming to understudy us. The Contributory Health Scheme has commenced in earnest”.
According to him, the new secretariat being handled by North China Construction Company is almost completed and when done, it may likely house all ministries, departments and agencies.
He added, “Almost all MDAs will be accommodated there and they will now share facilities to reduce cost and waste”.
On flood in Asaba City, Governor Okowa said, “The storm drainages have come to save the situation in Asaba. We thought it was an over-design but it has shown that it was well thought out.The first three out of the eight have been completed.
“We recently awarded two and the remaining three will come in due course. The Okpanam Road will be completed in the coming dry season.”
