Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa on Wednesday warned communities across the state, especially Warri and it’s environs to desist from collection of illegal levies (otherwise known as ‘deve’) from land developers, insisting that the trend was driving prospective investors away from the state.
Okowa who stated this during the official inauguration of his second term as governor in Asaba said, “I want to plead with our youth all over the state particularly the Uvwie and Warri environs that enough is enough for the “deve” syndrome. Because I will not hesitate to ensure those who indulged in it are punished.
“This is a very crucial matter because access to land is crucial in attracting and retaining private investors.”
Recall that in August 2018 the Governor had signed into law a bill criminalising the illegal and forceful collection of levies also known as ‘deve’ from public and private developers in the state.
The bill titled “Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018” was signed by the Governor at a brief ceremony attended by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori; Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Lyna Ocholor and other top government functionaries in his office.
The State Assembly had earlier passed the bill for the governor’s assent.
The governor during the signing of the bill had stated that the new law would put to an end the incessant harassment of developers particularly by youths who often times chase away investors who are ready to do business in the state with illegal levies.
He had also expressed confidence that with the signing into law of the bill prohibiting illegal and forceful entry into development sites, the state will witness speedy development.
“I am glad that this bill to prohibit the forceful entry into public and private properties has been passed into law as it will stop youths from trespassing into property development sites in the state and make investment to thrive. This prohibition will impact on the lives of our people and bring investment sanity into the state,” the governor had said.
But almost one year after the signing of the bill into law youths in the state have continued to harass innocent developers who want to invest their money in the state.
This trend has been one of the major reason why most investors have left the state and have prevented other interested ones from coming to do business in the state.
However, at his inaugural second term speech Okowa said peace and security was critical in attracting development adding that the Delta Advisory and Peace Building Council and other peace building committee had helped to restored peace in the state.
“It is my earnest hope and expectation that the cooperation and partnership we experienced in the first term will continue in an even greater measure,” he said.
The governor said his administration had done remarkably well in the last four years in every area of the economy, assuring that he would consolidate on the achievement.
“We have embarked on a total of 455 projects comprising 1,269.42 kilometres of roads and 517.34 kilometres of drainage channels. As at April 2019, 263 of these roads covering 638.23 kilometres of roads and 295.71 kilometres of associated drains have been completed, ” he said.
Okowa said Delta has commenced the process of exporting high-quality packaged Garri adding that the state now produced bagged rice known as “YAGEP rice”.
He solicited for the cooperation of the people particularly the youth to improve on the infrastructural development in the state
” I appeal to all particularly the youth to be law abiding and refrained from acts inimical to the peace and stability of Delta,” he said.
