Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has lamented the negative impact of the bombing of oil facilities by the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the economy of the oil-rich state. Okowa who spoke in Warri, Warri South Local Council of the state during the commissioning of road projects yesterday lamented that the revenue accruing to the state from the 13% derivation formula has dropped significantly as a result of the activities of the militants.

Meanwhile, with a receipt of twenty-three bills, fifty-three motions and eighteen reports, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Igbuya, has described the Sixth Assembly as very stable and promising. Igbuya who spoke in Asaba on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Sixth Assembly listed the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Law (Amendment), 2015, Delta State Contributory Health Commission Bill, 2015, Delta State Bureau of Land Instrument Preparation Charges Bill, 2015, Appropriation (Amendment) Bill, 2015, Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission Bill, 2015, Delta State Community Service Bill, 2015;
Delta State Economic Planning Council (Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Delta State Public Procurement Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015, Delta State Agency for Control of HIV and AIDS Bill, 2015, Appropriation Bill, 2016, Delta State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Agency Bill, 2016 and Delta State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy Bill, 2016 as bills received by the assembly.

He said that the House also received the Delta State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Delta State Anti-kidnapping Bill, 2016,
Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism Bill, 2016, Delta State Investment Development Agency Bill, 2016, Delta State Scholarship
Board Bill, 2016, Delta State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2016, Delta State Hotels and Restaurants Bill, 2016, Delta State
Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2016, Delta State Internal Revenue Consolidation (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Delta State Public Procurement Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Speaker said that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has so far assented to the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Law (Amendment), 2015, Appropriation Law, 2016, Delta State Contributory Health Commission Law 2015, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Law, 2015; and Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board Law, 2015 He added that the Delta State Economic Planning Council (Amendment) Bill, 2015, Delta State Anti-kidnapping Bill, 2016, Delta State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy Bill, 2016; and Delta State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2016 have been forwarded to the governor for assent. He added that in the light of great insecurity and evidence of financial fraud, occasioned by flagrant disregard for constituted authority, the lawmakers suspended the Executive Chairman of Uvwie Local Council.

Okowa attributed the success so far recorded by his administration in the provision of infrastructure to the early passage of the 2016 budget by the state’s House of Assembly. The governor said that it has not been easy in the last one year because of financial challenges facing the country and passionately appealed to Deltans to shun social vices, especially, bombing of oil facilities, observing that such actions do not portray the state in a good light before investors who want to do business in the state.