Delta Can No Longer Depend Solely On Oil, Says Oborevwori

By Bayo Amodu and Felix Igbekoyi, Asaba

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has declared that the state can no longer rely solely on oil revenue, urging local and foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities across critical sectors of the economy as his administration intensifies efforts to diversify the state’s economic base.

Speaking at the close of the second day of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba on Tuesday, the governor said that deliberations at the summit had reinforced the urgent need to expand investment beyond the oil and gas sector to achieve sustainable economic growth, create jobs, and ensure shared prosperity.

Oborevwori said discussions on agriculture and livestock development, the energy ecosystem, the blue economy and transport infrastructure, solid minerals and mining, the digital economy and innovation, as well as investment-related legal frameworks, had demonstrated that Delta State possesses enormous untapped opportunities capable of transforming its economy.

“We can no longer depend on one source of revenue. We must diversify our economy by attracting strategic investments into sectors where Delta State has a clear comparative advantage. That is the pathway to creating jobs, growing businesses and improving the quality of life of our people,” the governor said.

He explained that the summit was deliberately designed as a private-sector-driven initiative to connect investors with viable business opportunities that can deliver sustainable returns.

According to him, the role of government is to create an enabling environment through supportive policies, improved infrastructure, security and strategic partnerships with the private sector.

The governor disclosed that the state government had already secured land and implemented other measures to attract investment across key sectors, adding that investment roadshows had been held in countries including China and Brazil to showcase Delta’s economic potential.

Oborevwori described the summit as more than a policy dialogue, saying it had become a practical platform for linking investors with bankable opportunities and translating investment interests into concrete projects.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a business-friendly environment through improved infrastructure, policy consistency, security and stronger collaboration with the private sector.

The governor expressed optimism that the ideas, partnerships and commitments emerging from the summit would result in tangible investments that could accelerate industrialisation, create employment and position Delta as one of Nigeria’s leading investment destinations.

Earlier in the panel sessions, experts identified agriculture, livestock, mining, the blue economy, and legal reforms as key sectors capable of attracting sustainable investment into the state.

Former South-South Vice President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Chief Eta Enahoro, called on the state government to prioritise investments in fish and poultry production, noting that both sectors have the capacity to create jobs, reduce unemployment and transform the Delta into a leading agribusiness hub.

Brazilian agribusiness investor Roberto Fonseca also unveiled plans to partner with the Delta State Government to develop a modern cattle and beef value chain covering breeding, ranching, slaughterhouses, beef processing, cold storage, transportation, and distribution networks.

Fonseca said Delta possesses climatic and environmental conditions similar to those that enabled Brazil to become the world’s largest cattle and beef producer, adding that the proposed partnership could position the state as a major livestock production hub for Nigeria and neighbouring African markets.

On the blue economy, expert Princess Ronke Kosoko described Delta’s waterways as one of its greatest untapped assets, urging the state government to unlock opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, maritime logistics, inland waterways and tourism to drive sustainable economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Mosra Energy, Ramos Olukayode, disclosed that Delta State has more than 200 million tonnes of coal deposits in Obomkpa, Ugbodu and Ukunzu, describing the reserves as a major asset for industrial development. He also revealed plans to establish a 600-megawatt power plant in Obomkpa, with over 200 hectares already secured for the project.