Experts seek stable power, industrial hubs to curb unemployment, crime, insecurity in Delta
Latest figures released by the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has indicated that the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, received N7.776 trillion beginning from the transition period in May 2023 and the end of May 2024.
Details of the figures as shown by a document sighted by The Trumpet for the one year revealed that Delta, as usual received N519. 92 billion, being the highest chunk of allocation among the states of the country, followed by Lagos State with N512.18 billion, Rivers State N475.O9 billion, while Akwa Ibom and Kano states received N391.76 billion and N312.91 billion respectively.
An analysis of the takings furthers showed that oil producing Bayelsa State, got N296.23 billion, just as Oyo State received N248.85 billion, while Katsina and Borno states received N228.23 and N210.29 billion within the period under review.
The analysis also revealed that the South-South geopolitical zone, which has most of the oil producing states, got the highest allocation of N2.005 trillion, followed by the North West with an allocation of N1.420 trillion and the South West, which received N1.385 trillion.
A further breakdown of the figures showed that the South East states received the lowest allocation amounting to N816.19 billion, while the North Central and North East got N1.121.37 trillion and N1.027.77 trillion.
On a state by state basis, the South-South states of Delta received N519.92 billion, Rivers (N475.09 billion), Akwa Ibom (N391.76 billion), Bayelsa (N296.23 billion), Edo (N184.03 billion) and Cross River (N138.54 billion).
In the South West, Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria received the largest chunk of the allocation with N512.18 billion, followed by Oyo State with a share of N248.85 billion, Ondo (N179.70 billion), Osun (N170.02 billion), Ogun (N145.37 billion), while Ekiti State received the lowest allocation of N128.94 billion in the year under review.
Of the N816.19 billion that accrued to the South East from the federation account between May 2023 and May 2024, Anambra State got the highest share of N192.06 billion, followed by Imo State with a share of N184.60 billion and Enugu State with N159.1 billion, while Abia and Ebonyi states received the lowest figures of N152.66 billion and N127.77 billion respectively.
States in the North Central geopolitical zone got a total of N1.121.37 trillion with Benue receiving the highest chunk of N193.17 billion, followed by Niger State (185.12 billion), FCT Abuja (170.68 billion), Kogi (N160.25 billion), Plateau (N146.04), Kwara (N134.28 billion and Nasarawa (N131.83 billion).
Of the N1.420.24 trillion received by the seven North West states, Kano got the highest amount of N312.91 billion, followed by Katsina with N228.23 billion, while Jigawa received N199.29 billion, Kaduna (N192.50 billion), Sokoto (N174.89 billion), Kebbi (N169. 98 billion) with Zamfara getting the lowest allocation of N142.44 billion in the region.
In the North East, Borno State received the largest chunk of the allocation with N210.29 billion, followed by Bauchi State (N170.45 billion), Adamawa (N164.59 billion), Taraba (N149.72 billion), Yobe (141.40 billion), while Gombe got the least allocation of N120.04 billion.
The development has, however, raised issues concerning development gaps in the states and geopolitical zones across the country.
While it is believed that the South West and especially Lagos and Ogun states (with assistance of higher internally generated revenues (IGRs) were deploying their allocations to more developmental projects, the case remain different in the South-South, particularly in Delta State where the people believe that development has fallen far short of the huge allocation from the FAAC and other revenues accruing to the state from other sources.
Responding to the current figures released by the FAAC, an engineer and development enthusiast, Engr. James Ikumariengbe Ozore, who commended the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration for his development strides since assuming office in May last year, urged the state government to strive for electrification and industrialization of Delta State.
Read also: FAAC: Delta’s N48b allocation surpasses Rivers, A’Ibom, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano, others in May
He said apart from the ongoing road projects in different parts of the state, only stable power supply and industrialization could ensure a faster development of the state, adding that a major way to achieve greater development of the state was to establish solar mini grids to power households and small and medium businesses across the state.
Another indigene of the state, Chief God’sPower Chehoke Obi, who spoke to The Trumpet on development issues in the state, urged the state government to establish industrial hubs in all the 25 local government areas of the state.
“Industrial hubs are capable of generating millions of direct and indirect job opportunities, as young people will create small businesses along the corridors of such industrial hubs. When the youths become engaged, crime and insecurity will automatically reduce, while the effect will ensure peace and engender greater development of the state.
The state government will also do well by resolving the protracted power outages in most parts of the state by investing in independent power plants and even solar mini-grids to generate electricity 24 hours every day, seven days a week and all year round. If this is done, Delta State will experience unprecedented growth and development and its economy will blossom as one of the most viable in Nigeria,” he said.
