Delta State’s economy received a boost last week when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurated two multibillion naira business ventures pioneered by Executive Chairman of Lee Group of Companies, Chief Leemon Ikpea.
The Lee Group, which is already involved in several oil and gas investments in the state, last Thursday flagged off the Trebet A1 Factory Extension in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area and the Lee Oasis Supermarket in the heart of Warri metropolis.
A visibly excited Okowa said the confidence of Chief Ikpea and Lee Group was an indication that the state remains a favourable destination for investors.
He said: “We are a very friendly and peaceful people, we have a lot of human and natural resources, obviously, Delta State is the place to be when you talk about investment.”
The governor attributed the prevailing peace and security in the state to the role of traditional rulers, youths and women, whom he said are involved in the creation of enabling environment for investments to thrive.
He added that while it was not possible for the state government, or any other state of the federation, to create job for all its teeming youths, the role of the government was to provide infrastructure, peace and security and the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He remarked that if businesses thrive, youths and able-bodied members of the society would be gainfully employed.
Okowa said the $16 billion EPZ project in the Warri South West Local Government Area was on course and urged the people of the area to continue to be law-abiding and to give peace a chance.
“We must realise that the more we create the enabling environment for investors to come, the more job opportunities that will be available for our youths, our women and opportunities for our people.”
Chief Ikpea said: “We are here gathered to the glory of God, for the twin ceremonies of the official opening of Lee Oasis Supermarket Limited and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Trebet A1 factory’s extension.
“It would interest you to know that Trebet A1 factory expansion project is estimated to cost about €6million (about N1.4billion). We are committed to realising an ultra-modern processing factory fitted with state-of-art equipment for the production of various premium juices, carbonated drinks and water.
“I want to assure Your Excellency that as players in the organised private sector; we would continue to partner with your administration for the prosperity of our people and the overall development of Delta State.”
Ikpea hailed Okowa for creating enabling environment for businesses in the state to grow, stressing that Warri and its environs are peaceful for interested investors to do business.
Okowa used the occasion to inform applicants for the state government’s empowerment programmes that the first 6, 000 direct beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes would commence their business within six months. He called on Deltans to be patient with his administration, noting that he would not renege on his campaign promises.
At the ground breaking ceremony, the governor disclosed that in his administration’s quest for conducive environment for traders, contractors have been mobilised to work at the Sapele market while those who would construct the market at Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area would be at the project site in the next couple of weeks.
The ceremonies were attended by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and Pere of Seimbiri kingdom, their royal majesties, Emmanuel Sideso Abe I and Charles Ayemi Botu; the Unuevworo of Ekpan, Chief Newton Agbofodoh JP; Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, President General, Okere-Urhobo kingdom and Chief Wilson Oboh as well as delegations from the banking sector, including First Bank, which sent a large contingent of representatives, led by Group Head, Mr. Phillip Madojutimi.
Others were former commissioners of information, finance, Mr Oma Djebah and Bernard Okumagba; and Chief Fidelis Tilije, Commissioner for and Mrs Mary Iyasere, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Godwin Abhulimen and Tony Ikpea of Lee Group, among others.