NAIJA247 NEWS

The Delta Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Chika Ossai says the ministry is proposing N1.9 billion for 2021 fiscal year.

The commissioner said this during the ministry’s annual budget defense with the State House of Assembly Committee on Trade and Investment on Tuesday in Asaba.

Ossai said that the ministry intended to embark on projects that would facilitate the actualisation of the present administration’s mission for a” stronger Delta’’.

”The ministry intends to embark on ventures that will lead to the rapid industrial and commercial growth of the state such as development of modern and rural markets.

”This is with the aim of facilitating the growth of commercial activities in the state,” he said.

On the achievements of the ministry in 2020, Ossai said that the total budgetary provision for capital expenditure was N5.3 billion, out of which N3.6 billion was earmarked for Agro-Industrial Park.

According to him, as at Sept. 21, the amount received for the execution of capital projects is N103 million representing 94 per cent performance.

”It is my hope that before the budget year runs its full course, there will be more releases for the execution of capital projects, which will boost the ministry’s . performance to an appreciable level,” Ossai said.

The commissioner also revealed that the ministry generated N34 million through registration of business premises in 2020 and N4.2 million from registration of cooperative societies.

”The overall performance of the ministry’s budget for the year 2020 is 5.9 per cent. The poor performance may be attributed to COVID-19 pandemic which slowed down government activities,” he said.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Austine Chikezie, who decried the poor performance of the ministry and advised it to improve on its performance by attracting more investors to the state.

He said that the state had huge potential that could create employments for the people if well harnessed.