(http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Entrance-of-Effurun-Garden-Park-at-Uvwie-Local-Government-Area-of-Delta-State.jpg) (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Entrance-of-Effurun-Garden-Park-at-Uvwie-Local-Government-Area-of-Delta-State.jpg) Entrance of Effurun Garden Park, at Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State
The vision to kick-start the development of the state's tourism sector commenced in 2001 when the then administration of Governor James Ibori carved out a Directorate of Culture, Arts and Tourism from the Ministry of Information.
The directorate was mandated to fashion out result-oriented programmes for the promotion of the cultural tourism potential of the state, strengthen its revenue base and reduce dependence on oil proceeds. This policy thrust has been vigorously pursued over the years with a new dimension introduced to fast track the growth of the sector, which has enabled the directorate to take advantage of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative of the Uduaghan administration.
Governor Uduaghan, while launching the Warri Industrial Business Park in 2009, had maintained that "in adopting the PPP option, we feel as a government that we should restrict ourselves to the role of enablers and facilitators of business. We know there are certain things that government has not been able to do well, one which is to be good managers. We find that in modern economy, the reflex for innovation and creativity succeeds if it is in the hands of private businesses."
This transparency of purpose has greatly boosted the development of the state's tourism sector and enhanced its revenue profile as well as made it inched closer to becoming the preferred tourism destination in Nigeria. This is evident with the partnership between with Sarner PFM Ltd to build a world class Water Park at Oleri in Udu Local Government Area of the state. The project is estimated to cost $250 million and would be financed by the foreign partner, while the state government has already provided 500 acres of land for its take off. This represents 10 per cent of the state's counterpart funding of the project. The state has also kept to the terms of the partnership by constructing the access roads and bridges to the site and prepared the land for structural development of the park.
(http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/A-recreational-park-with-a-gigantic-display-board-built-by-Uduaghan-in-Asaba..jpg) (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/A-recreational-park-with-a-gigantic-display-board-built-by-Uduaghan-in-Asaba..jpg) A recreational park with a gigantic display board built by Uduaghan in Asaba.
The project, the first of its kind in West Africa, when completed will have a waterfall, an African cultural village, a children's play ground, cinema/casino halls, sports village, first rate hotels and villas. To further boost tourism in the state, the Uduaghan administration has pursued its infrastructural development agenda with zest. Roads and bridges have been built across the state, street light have been provided in major towns, not only for its aesthetic value but to curb crime in the night; electricity supply is being enhanced through the building of the state's Independent Power Plant; the transportation sector has also witnessed massive investments with the building of the Asaba International Airport and the face-lifting of the Osubi Airstrip to boost air travel.
National Mirror