By Kenneth Orusi, Managing Editor
ASABA – Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared Delta State one of Nigeria’s most promising investment destinations, urging both domestic and international investors to seize the opportunities created by the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms.
Speaking on Monday August 3, 2026, at the opening of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, Shettima said the economic policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration had restored investor confidence, strengthened macroeconomic stability and repositioned Nigeria for sustained economic growth.
He said recent positive assessments by global rating agencies, including Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s, underscored renewed international confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
According to the Vice President, the reforms have also increased federal allocations to states, enabling sub-national governments to pursue ambitious development programmes capable of driving industrialisation and economic expansion.
“The best time to invest in Nigeria is now before the opportunities become more competitive,” Shettima said, adding that Delta possesses the assets required to become a leading industrial and commercial hub.
He identified the state’s extensive coastline, seaports, natural gas reserves, refining infrastructure, agricultural resources, blue economy potential and solid mineral deposits as major competitive advantages.
Commending Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for convening the investment summit, Shettima assured investors that the Federal Government would continue collaborating with state governments to remove barriers to investment and promote enterprise.
“We are partners on the journey from promise to production, from allocation to transformation, and from potential to prosperity,” he stated.
Delta Unveils $100 Million Investment Support Fund
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori used the summit to announce a US$100 million Viability Gap Funding initiative aimed at de-risking strategic private sector investments and accelerating project implementation across the state.
He said the intervention would help transform investment commitments into bankable projects capable of boosting industrial growth, economic diversification and large-scale job creation.
According to the governor, the initiative builds on investment promotion missions undertaken by the state to China and Brazil in 2025 to attract international investors and strategic partnerships.
Oborevwori described Delta as one of Nigeria’s strongest investment destinations, citing its estimated ₦17 trillion economy, abundant natural resources, improving infrastructure, prudent fiscal management and investor-friendly policies.
He disclosed that the government had introduced incentives, including waivers on tenement rates and selected levies for up to five years, alongside the establishment of an Ease of Doing Business Council to simplify investment procedures.
The governor also revealed that more than 12,000 hectares of land had been designated for commercial agriculture, while the state’s 163-kilometre coastline offers significant opportunities for blue economy investments.
He highlighted additional prospects in gas-powered electricity generation, renewable energy, solar infrastructure and mini-grid projects, assuring investors that Delta remains financially stable, secure and debt-free.
Oborevwori further noted that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources recognised Delta as Nigeria’s Safest State for Oil and Gas Investments in 2024.
Okonjo-Iweala, Soludo, Lumumba Back Delta’s Investment Drive
Delivering the keynote address, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, urged Delta State to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), global supply chain shifts and Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to emerge as the country’s next industrial growth centre.
Describing herself as “a Delta State optimist,” she said the state’s natural gas resources, seaports, rail infrastructure, fertile agricultural land, skilled workforce and sound fiscal management position it to compete with established commercial centres.
She encouraged the state to prioritise investments in the Delta Special Economic Zone, agro-processing, marine logistics, blue economy, oil and gas value addition, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, said Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment has improved significantly, noting that the country has moved from the capital flight witnessed in 2023 to a more stable and predictable foreign exchange regime.
He advocated stronger economic collaboration between Delta and Anambra States while urging governments to sustain investment promotion beyond periodic summits.
Pan-African scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, challenged African governments and investors to place greater confidence in the continent’s economic potential, arguing that increased intra-African investment would accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign capital.
Minister of Finance, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, also commended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, saying subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation had significantly expanded revenues available to states and local governments.
He described Delta as a natural leader in the blue economy and encouraged investors to see both the state and Nigeria as key investment destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Private Sector Pledges Strategic Investments
Chairman of Transcorp Power Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, pledged the company’s support for the Delta State Government’s drive to deliver reliable electricity to industries and households.
Chief Executive Officer of Mosra Energy, Ramos Olukayode, disclosed that Delta possesses more than 200 million tonnes of coal deposits located in Obomkpa, Ukunzu and neighbouring communities.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of UTM Gas Limited, Julius Rone, revealed that Delta State’s ₦42 billion investment for an eight per cent equity stake in the company in 2022 has appreciated to about ₦200 billion.
Rone also announced that UTM Gas would establish its corporate headquarters in Warri when full operations commence in 2030, further reinforcing Delta State’s growing profile as a strategic energy investment destination.
