Delta State Government has unveiled an ambitious strategy to position the state as one of Nigeria’s leading investment destinations by leveraging massive infrastructure development, its blue economy potential and the Delta Special Economic Zone to attract local and foreign investors.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing ahead of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026, scheduled to hold from August 3 to 5 in Asaba.
Emu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has laid a solid foundation for industrialisation through sustained investments in roads, bridges, power and transport infrastructure.
According to him, the state has constructed and rehabilitated more than 2,600 kilometres of roads and over 20 bridges, opening up rural communities, reducing transportation costs and improving connectivity across key economic corridors.
Highlighting Delta’s investment advantages, Emu described the Delta Special Economic Zone as one of the state’s biggest attractions, noting that its proximity to the OB-3 gas pipeline guarantees investors access to some of the most affordable and reliable electricity in the country.
“The infrastructure has been provided. Government has created the enabling environment. Investors can come into Delta and enjoy competitive energy costs that many other states cannot offer,” he said.
The SSG disclosed that the state currently operates an independent power infrastructure supplying about 8.5 megawatts of electricity to government facilities and public institutions, adding that ongoing electricity sector reforms would further expand access to affordable power for industries.
He also highlighted Delta’s strategic maritime assets, noting that the state is home to four seaports, two airports and a 163-kilometre Atlantic coastline, making it a prime destination for trade, logistics and industrial investment.
Emu said the Oborevwori administration is prioritising the development of the blue economy through investments in aquaculture, commercial fishing, fish feed production, seafood processing, cold-chain logistics and marine transportation.
He noted that the Ekpan and Ugborikoko axis hosts one of West Africa’s largest concentrations of fish ponds, where commercial fish farming has created thousands of jobs and transformed local livelihoods.
Beyond its maritime resources, Emu said Delta is richly endowed with commercially viable deposits of coal, lignite, kaolin and silica, presenting significant opportunities for mining, manufacturing and power generation.
According to him, coal extracted from parts of the state already supplies major cement manufacturers, while discussions are ongoing on coal-fired electricity generation to support industrial expansion.
The SSG further disclosed that the state government has spent the past three years engaging investors in China, Brazil and other strategic markets to showcase Delta’s investment potential.
He revealed that investment engagements in São Paulo had yielded encouraging outcomes, with several Brazilian companies expected to participate in the summit, while Chinese investors have also expressed strong interest.
To strengthen investor engagement, Emu said the state has developed detailed investment prospectuses and launched a dedicated summit website to provide information and facilitate business interactions before, during and after the event.
Expressing optimism about the summit, he said it would serve as a major catalyst for Delta’s economic transformation by attracting investments that will deepen industrialisation, boost exports and create sustainable employment opportunities for the state’s growing youth population.
“The opportunities are enormous. We have the resources, the infrastructure, the connectivity and the political will. What we seek now is partnership with investors who are ready to grow with Delta,” Emu said.
