-By Sylvester Iloba:

Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA) is an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) which was established by Delta State Law in 2016 and started operations in 2017, The Agency is charged with the responsibility of attracting investors to Delta State through several Business Models comprising various types of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) including concessions.

DIDA carries out its investment promotion and marketing activities by creating awareness about the abundant investment opportunities in the State. DIDA performs four core functions: investment promotion of Delta State as a preferred investment destination, facilitating establishment of investments, project management and aftercare services. 

DIDA does this by providing information about availability of raw materials and investment opportunities to investors; sectors where the state has comparative and competitive advantages, supporting useful statistical data and business information such as macroeconomic indicators (GNP, GDP, HDI, inflation, demographic information, labor productivity, average wages, attractive sectors of domestic economy; practical investment support like securing permits or completing other administrative obligations; and by administering the investment incentives in the State on behalf of Local and Foreign investors.

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Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA) in consonance with the key objectives of an IPA was established by His Excellency Sen. Dr. IfeanyiOkowa’s administration with the primary objectives to identify, promote, coordinate, regulate and implement Investment Projects and concessions in the State. Its operational strategy is hinged on harnessing available natural resources based comparative advantage to promote inflow of investments, diversify the economy away from over-dependence on petroleum revenues, generate employment and create wealth in line with the SMART Agenda and the achievement of the Stronger Delta Policy of the present administration 

The Agency has since inception been at the forefront of promoting and facilitating both Foreign and Domestic Direct Investments based on public private partnership business model in consonance with the mandate establishing it.

The following are among the key projects facilitated by the Agency:

BURUTU PORT, BURUTU –involves the development of the Port in three phases at the total cost of US$2.037million. The first phase comprises the development of the existing port costing US$ 68.2 million leading ultimately to the third Phase which involves the construction of an Inter-Continental Trans-shipment Port with the depth of 23 metres. Delta State Government has 5% equity stake in the Project which is planned to transform Burutu Port to become the trans-shipment centre for West and South West Africa as well as the hub of Nigeria’s Import – Export Trade involving the Outside World, South-South, Eastern and Northern Nigeria.

DIDA Management visit to the Burutu Port, Burutu 

ASABA ULTRA-MODERN MECHANIC VILLAGE AND AUTO PARTS, ASABA – the project was developed under PPP at the cost of N3.0 billion.

It has a total of 1,000 lock up stores and 200 mechanic workshops.

The Asaba Ultra Mordern Mechanic Village and Auto Part, Asaba

VIRTUAL GAS-POWER GAS, EBEDEI – was attracted to invest in Delta State to utilize the abundant natural gas available at Platform Petroleum to produce compressed natural gas (CNG) at the total project cost of US$20.0 million, construction works have since been 100% completed and the project has gone into full production. It is private sector driven.

DIDA Management visit to Virtual Gas-Power Gas, Ebedei

NEW TANKERS PARK AT EKPAN, UVWIE LGA – Is being constructed under PPP arrangement at the cost of N5.0 billion and project has achieved over 60% completion.

PHASE 2 OGBEOGONOGO MODERN MARKET, ASABA – involves the development of an ultra-modern market at the Asaba City Centre at the cost of about N4 billion and the project is nearing completion. It has a total of 1,000 lock up stores.

Phase 2 Ogbeogonogo Modern Market, Asaba

DELTA SONGHAI AMUKPE – The State government has concluded the negotiation to partner with investors, Adventium Global Inc. to fund and manage the farm in order to achieve the aims and objectives of setting up the facility as well as developing the Farm to become a successful Agribusiness Centre. The PPP arrangement involves the capital injection of about US$40.0 Million.

Delta Songhai Amukpe

DELFRASCO INDUSTRY LIMITED, ISSELE-UKU – involves the establishment of a Tower Manufacturing, Fabrication, Hot Deep Galvanizing, Research Testing and Training Centre at the total cost of about US$$40.0 million. Delta State government is de-risking the project by taking up 12.5% equity and has commenced disbursement of funds following the Ground Breaking ceremony of the project and work has commenced at the project site situated at Issele-Uku in Aniocha North L.G.A.

Delfrasco Industry Limited Tower Maufacturing Plant, Issele-Uku

FLNG PROJECT IN DELTA STATE – is being promoted by UTM Offshore Limited and involves the production of Liquefied Natural Gas aboard a Floating Vessel (FLNG) with the capacity of 1.5mmtpa at the setup cost of US$1.7billion which is being funded by mixture of debt and equity. The project’s operational Headquarters shall be in Delta State with the State taking up 5% equity alongside many notable other investors comprising, Vitol, NNPC, etc in addition to debt finance through Afrexim. 

DIDA Management Visit to the Flng Corporate Headquarters in Warri

DELTA REST PARK, UMUNEDE /EMUHU – Apart from the Trailer Park, there are many other planned businesses such as Hotels, Restaurants, Small Scale Industrial Clusters, Warehouses, Motor Vehicle Spare Parts Shops, Mechanic service bays, Fuel stations, etc. on land measuring over 176Ha. Delta State Government has executed an MOU to enable the Anchor Investor to commence the construction of the Trailer Park at the cost of N4.0 billion under Concession arrangement.

STALLION AUTO KEKE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN DELTA STATE – Delta State Government has approved the proposal by Stallion Group to establish an Auto Keke Manufacturing Plant in the State on PPP basis at the cost of 5billion Naira and the construction work in the Plant is on-going in the State. As incentive for Stallion Group to locate their Plant in the State, the State Government has provided 1.488 Ha of land with Factory Shed near Okpanam along Benin – Asaba Expressway as temporary location to ensure immediate take-off of the project; while the permanent factory location shall be on 10Ha of land at Delta State Rest Park. Moreover, the State Government has approved the payment of 15% Subsidy on the price of each Auto Keke to de-risk the investment and to the benefit of Deltans.  

DELTA WIRES INDUSTRIES LIMITED

Delta State Government has approved a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Eastern Metals Ltd to establish an ultra-modern manufacturing facility for collated nails, screws, flats, channels and angles steel to be located at the Delta State free trade Zone. DTSG will take a 10% equity share and also provide 20 hectares of land required for the project at Kwale Industrial Free Trade Zone. When this project is fully operational, it would create employment for teeming youths andincrease the IGR of the State.

DIDA’S FACILITATING AND MARKETING ROLE – In addition to actively developing and promoting investments, the Agency also supports other MDAs in carrying out project evaluation and analysis which are peculiar to their functions such as the CBN Oil Palm programme, Lander Brothers Anchorage project Asabaand Delta State Leisure Park, Asaba. The Agency also assists in marketing projects like the Delta State Agro-industrial Park at Aboh-Ogwshi Uku and KwaleIndustrial Park, to investors. 

ONE STOP SHOP AND BUSINESS FACILITATION – DIDA operates a One Stop Shop which enables the Agency to guide investors in obtaining reliable information, approvals as well as offering services to investors when they have challenges with Security Agencies and all other sundry matters. Delta State has successfully inaugurated the Ease of Doing Business Reform Council in line with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) namely;

His Excellency the Governor, Chairman

ii.​Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Trade & Investments, Member

iii.​Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Economic Planning, Member

iv.​Head of Service, Member

v.​Chief Economic Adviser, Member

vi.​Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Member

vii.​Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands & Surveys, Member

viii.​Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice, Member

ix.​Chairman Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA), Member

x.​Chairman Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Member

xi.​Chief Registrar State High Court of Justice, Member

xii.​President Delta State Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, ​Mines and Agriculture

xiii.​Director General Delta State Investments Development Agency, ​Member/Secretary

The Terms of Reference of the Ease of Doing Business Reform Council comprise the following;

i.​Remove bureaucratic constraints, trade encumbrance to doing business and ​make ​Delta State a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.

ii.​Strengthen the implementation of Business Environment Reforms and ​deepen collaboration among MDAs, using focal persons towards achieving ​Socio-Economic advancement.

iii.​Ensure transparency and efficiency in the business environment through the ​strengthening of the State website with critical and quality information on ​Government laws, policies and programmes to aid Business Owners and ​Investors.

iv.​Institute electronic filling of taxes and tax payment.

v.​Establish specialized/small courts for quick resolution of Trade/Business ​Disputes.

vi.​Ensure Delta State achieves  performance in result areas and meet eligibility ​criteria to access the World Bank backed funds of the 3years State Action on ​Business Enabling Reform ProgrammeSABER and

vii.​Constitute a Technical Committee consisting of SABER representatives from the listed World Bank disbursed linked indicators MDAs  as contained in the eligibility ​criteria matrix. 

The MDAs and their respective  Focal Persons are listed below:

⮚ Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources

⮚ Ministry of Lands and Survey

⮚ Ministry of Transport

⮚ Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Service

⮚ Ministry of Trade and Investments

⮚ Ministry of Oil and Gas

⮚ Ministry of Energy

⮚ Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises  Dev. Agency

⮚ Ministry of Environment

⮚ Ministry of Justice

⮚ Bureau for Job and Wealth Creation.

⮚ Ministry of Works

⮚ Delta State Judiciary

REFORMS AND INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN DELTA STATE

More than ever before the Delta State Government has created the environment for improved Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). The improved business friendly conditions in the State are as a result of deliberate measures and policies in the various broad spheres of business environment viz;

i) Good governance and political stability as the State has become more peaceful

ii) Sound economic management

Promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP)

iii) Central Billing System of Taxes and Levies etc.

iv) Delta State Security Committee under the Chairmanship of the State Governor- for curbing crime and guaranteeing security law and order for businesses

v) Delta State Anti-Kidnapping Law 2016 – to curb incidence of kidnapping.

vi) Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law popularly known as “Deve”- to curb the incessant harassment of property developers.

vii) Delta State Multi Door Court for business resolution disputes.

viii) Setting up of the Delta State Ease of Doing Business Council and assigning of focal persons from relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies etc.

Access to State Government facilities

ix) Intermediating between investors and the host communities.

x) Grant of waivers from payment of tenement rates, fees, levies and other charges for investors for up to 5years after commencement of business.

xi) Grant waivers regarding payment of charges and other related costs in respect of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy / Land Title documents to support investment partners in deserving cases. 

xii) Helping investors with appropriate pool of man power resources etc.

Both the Chairman, Mr. Paul Nmah and the Director General, Olorogun Lucky Oghene-Omoru of the Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA) speaking about the activities of the Agency said;

“ the Agency has produced Investment Promotion documents to guide investors in determining their project preferences and packaging their investment(s). 

“DIDA is also providing advisory services to Exporters in order to access the various lending windows available at CBN, NEXIM and other lending initiatives.

“The Agency is positioned to welcome investors into the State and provide the enabling environment forthem to invest in the State and grow their businesses.”.

• Sylvester Iloba is a Public Relations Officer at DIDA.