Oborevwori Woos Investors to Delta With $100m Derisk Fund

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has urged local and international investors to put their money into the state, pointing to its natural resources, industrial prospects and a $100 million Viability Gap Funding pool set up to reduce investment risk.

He made the pitch at the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference 2026 in Calabar, Cross River State, where Olorogun Lucky Oghene-Omoru, Chairman of the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), represented him. The conference runs from November 12 to 14 under the theme, “The Role of Sovereigns in Catalysing Development through Trade and Investments.”

Oborevwori said the state had identified bankable projects in the industrial, maritime, energy and agricultural sectors, and assured investors that his government was committed to keeping the business environment conducive.

Industrial and gas prospects

According to the governor, two economic free zones in Kwale and Koko offer openings for gas-based industries and manufacturing.

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Among the projects on offer are a ceramics raw materials plant requiring €50 million, a glass manufacturing facility estimated at between $50 million and $200 million depending on its scale, and another industrial project estimated to require €19 million.

Preliminary studies have been completed, he said, with the ceramics project progressing towards take-off and a leading German glass manufacturer expressing interest in the proposed glass factory.

Oborevwori named the proposed Burutu Seaport as a major investment opportunity, citing its strategic access to inland waterways linking Onitsha, Lokoja and other commercial centres. The port secured a 40-year concession in 2023, he said, and its second phase is designed to accommodate a depth requirement of 41 metres. He added that the project had received approvals from the Federal Executive Council and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

Other maritime assets, he said, include ports in Warri, Sapele and Koko, as well as several jetties with potential for shipbuilding and related businesses.

He nevertheless flagged the silting of waterways as a major challenge and asked Afreximbank and other development finance institutions to invest in dredging so that navigation and maritime commerce could improve.

Economy, power and incentives

Giving an overview of the state’s economy, Oborevwori put the population at an estimated 6.7 million, GDP at about $1.7 billion and the 2026 budget at approximately N1.72 trillion.

He recalled that his administration committed $100 million as initial Viability Gap Funding at the August 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit to derisk investments by prospective investors. He cited the acquisition of 100 hectares of land by multinational agribusiness company Olam for a proposed $70 million agro-processing facility as evidence of growing investor confidence, and pointed to the state’s one-stop-shop investment arrangement and incentives aimed at simplifying business processes and cutting the cost of doing business.

On electricity, he said power plants in Sapele, Ughelli and Okpai have a combined installed generation capacity exceeding 3,500 megawatts, positioning Delta as a major contributor to national power generation. His administration, he said, is addressing transmission and distribution challenges through legal and administrative reforms while encouraging private-sector investment in electricity infrastructure. He added that the government was also exploring gas-based industries, including liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas projects.

“Delta State has the natural resources, strategic location, infrastructure and investment opportunities to support profitable businesses. We are inviting local and international investors to partner with us.

“Our message is simple: Delta State is ready for business,” Oborevwori said.

The Delta delegation included the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr Barry Gbe; the Director-General of DIDA, Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri; the Special Adviser on Finance, Investment and International Development, Barr. George Orogun; and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr Nelson Egware.