Oborevwori Unveils $100m Investment Fund to Attract Investors, Create Jobs in Delta

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has unveiled a $100 million Viability Gap Fund to de-risk private sector investments in Delta State, describing the initiative as a bold step toward accelerating industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.

The governor announced the fund on Monday at the opening of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, where he said the facility would help convert investment commitments into bankable projects and boost investor confidence.

Oborevwori said the summit was designed to move beyond discussions by attracting tangible investments capable of transforming Delta’s economy.

According to him, the initiative follows investment promotion missions to China and Brazil in 2025 aimed at securing strategic global partnerships.

The governor disclosed that Delta, with an estimated economy valued at about ₦17 trillion, has introduced several investor-friendly policies, including tax incentives, waivers on tenement rates and other levies for up to five years, as well as the establishment of an Ease of Doing Business Council to simplify investment processes.

He added that more than 12,000 hectares of land have been earmarked for commercial agriculture, while the state’s 163-kilometre coastline offers significant opportunities in the blue economy.

Oborevwori also highlighted investment opportunities in gas-fired power plants, renewable energy, solar farms and mini-grid infrastructure, assuring investors that Delta remains financially stable, secure and debt-free.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources recognised Delta as Nigeria’s Safest State for Oil and Gas Investments in 2024.

Speaking at the summit, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged local and foreign investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s improving economic outlook, saying the Federal Government’s reforms have strengthened macroeconomic stability and restored investor confidence.

Shettima described Delta as a first-order investment destination, citing its strategic coastline, ports, gas reserves, agricultural potential and solid mineral deposits as major economic assets.

Other speakers, including WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Soludo, Transcorp Power Holdings Chairman Tony Elumelu and UTM Gas CEO Julius Rone, also highlighted Delta’s vast investment potential and pledged support for initiatives aimed at driving sustainable economic growth and industrial development.