Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has launched a $100 million (about ₦133 billion) Viability Gap Fund to attract private sector investment and accelerate infrastructure and economic development across the state.
The governor announced the initiative at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, which brought together government officials, business leaders and development partners to explore investment opportunities in the state.
Oborevwori said the summit was designed to connect investors with viable opportunities while showcasing Delta State’s economic potential.
According to him, the Viability Gap Fund will help de-risk strategic projects, making them more attractive to private investors by reducing financial uncertainties.
He said the initiative is expected to boost investor confidence and support the delivery of high-impact projects that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs and promote shared prosperity.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, the special guest of honour at the summit, said Nigeria’s economy is on a stronger footing, citing positive assessments from international credit rating agencies, including Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s.
He, however, stressed that long-term economic resilience depends on diversification rather than continued reliance on oil revenues. “A government that prepares for life beyond oil understands that resources may finance progress, but only ideas, institutions and enterprises can sustain it,” he said.
Shettima urged state governments to move beyond identifying investment opportunities to implementing projects that generate jobs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Also speaking, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO), said global economic disruptions have created fresh opportunities for Delta State, Nigeria and Africa.
She called for greater fiscal discipline, lower trade costs, improved project execution and stronger maintenance of public infrastructure.
Okonjo-Iweala also encouraged governments to draw lessons from the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, noting that the project has generated thousands of jobs and demonstrated the benefits of strategic infrastructure investment.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said states and local governments are receiving significantly higher allocations following recent economic reforms under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, improved macroeconomic stability provides an opportunity for state governments and businesses to invest in projects that promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity.
Delta State’s investment fund aligns with broader efforts across Nigeria to reduce investment risks and improve access to financing.
In 2025, the Federal Government announced plans to establish a national de-risking fund to improve affordable financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative is intended to address high commercial lending rates, often between 28 per cent and 30 per cent, which have constrained the growth of small businesses.
By creating its own Viability Gap Fund, Delta State aims to leverage public resources to attract private capital, accelerate infrastructure delivery and position itself as a leading investment destination in Nigeria.
