The Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the distribution of 50 fishing boats, 15-horsepower Yamaha outboard engines and fishing nets to fishermen in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, describing the intervention as a practical demonstration of the Governor’s unwavering commitment to the economic empowerment of fishermen and farmers across Delta State.
Oghenesivbe said the intervention goes beyond the provision of material assistance, stressing that the boats and equipment constitute productive economic assets capable of increasing fishing capacity, improving household incomes, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening food security.
According to him, enabling fishermen to travel farther, remain longer on productive fishing grounds and transport their catches efficiently will generate value not only for beneficiaries but also for fish processors, traders, transporters, boat mechanics and other participants in the riverine economy.
The Director-General, in a statement made available to Radio Nigeria Asaba,noted that the initiative is a strong expression of Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda, particularly the administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for citizens irrespective of their geographical location. He said the decision to take productive assets directly to riverine communities demonstrates an understanding that inclusive development must recognise the peculiar economic realities of people living and working along Delta’s waterways.
Oghenesivbe further observed that the state intervention complements the economic philosophy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on strengthening productive sectors, supporting agriculture, expanding economic opportunities and promoting inclusive grassroots development. He said the two policy directions share an important principle: government should create the enabling environment and provide strategic support that allows citizens to become more productive, rather than relying solely on welfare-based interventions.
He said the economic significance of the programme will become even greater as government complements the fishing assets with access roads, landing jetties, improved transportation and facilities that reduce spoilage and facilitate access to markets.
“When production is supported by infrastructure and market access, the fisherman earns more, the family becomes more economically secure, local commerce expands and the state’s food economy becomes stronger,” he stated, adding that this is the kind of practical governance that makes public investment meaningful to ordinary citizens.
According to Oghenesivbe, the planned extension of the programme to other riverine local government areas is equally commendable because it has the potential to establish a broader riverine economic empowerment framework across Delta State. He urged beneficiaries to protect and properly maintain the boats, engines and nets, noting that responsible utilisation of the assets will ensure that the intervention continues to generate economic value for many years.
The Director-General said that, as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections, the most important measure of public confidence in government should remain the tangible impact of policies and programmes on citizens’ lives. He noted that interventions such as this can deepen citizens’ appreciation of the connection between effective governance, economic opportunity and improved livelihoods.
“Recent public endorsements by stakeholders in parts of the Warri axis have also reflected appreciation of the development partnership between the Federal Government and the Delta State Government,” he noted.
Oghenesivbe congratulated Governor Oborevwori and the beneficiaries, saying the fishing-boat initiative reinforces the administration’s reputation for practical, people-oriented governance.
He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope programme and the Delta State Government’s MORE Agenda will continue to create opportunities for fishermen, farmers, entrepreneurs and other productive citizens, thereby strengthening livelihoods, food security, grassroots economic activity and inclusive development across Delta State.
