An investment expert, Hon Peter Isioma Okolie; has called on investors to take advantage of the liberalization of the power sector by the federal government to invest in Delta State.
Hon Okolie, who was speaking at a sensitization programme on the New Delta State Electricity Law and the benefits it holds for Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs, organized by the Asaba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA) said the state was blessed with the enabling environment for investment.
He added that the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, had given approval for the adoption of a decentralized mini-grid model of electricity and the establishment of new regulatory bodies to drive a sustainable power market in the state, stressing that power sector investment was profitable because no one could do without electricity.
The investment analyst called on Deltans to use their connections to woo investors and leave the Delta Investment Development Agency (DIDA) to do the rest, expressing confidence in the ability of the Agency to drive the process.
Hon Okolie, who is the 1st Deputy President of ASACCIMA, admitted that Investment in power business was highly capital intensive, but said it could be achieved through partnerships, which the Chamber was using the sensitization programme to create awareness of.
“Some of you may not have the money, but you have a son, a brother; a sister; a friend who will like to invest in power in Delta State. The essence of this programme is for you know that this power exists and we have the enabling environment for investment in power to work. The law is there already; we are expecting the Commissions that will help to implement the law.
“However, the main person we need is the investor and the investor will come from the Chamber forum, which embodies business men and women. We are the ones that will make it work; not the government. Government will only give us the enabling environment and they already have a law that will help us do better.
“So, I want to challenge you to look for investors. DIDA is there to guide you if you have any challenge. This power business is real and it’s profitable. As a matter of fact everybody is a customer because no one is exempted from the use of power”, the investment expert said.
ASACCIMA Leads Sensitization on Delta New Electricity Law