ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State’s emergence as the second-best governed state in Nigeria in the 2025 Governance Performance Index is a direct result of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s prudent management of public resources, deliberate grassroots development strategy and strict project monitoring culture, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, has said.
Speaking during an interview on Niger Delta Today on ADBN Television, Ifeajika said the governor’s decision to ensure equitable distribution of development projects across all 25 local government areas of the state, coupled with his commitment to fiscal discipline, has distinguished Delta as one of Nigeria’s best-performing states.
According to him, the ranking by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies was not a surprise to those familiar with Governor Oborevwori’s leadership style and track record in public service.
Delta State secured second position in the 2025 Governance Performance Index with a score of 70 per cent, behind Kaduna State’s 73 per cent and ahead of 34 other states of the federation. The assessment measured governance outcomes, infrastructure development, public service delivery and administrative effectiveness across the country.
Ifeajika described Governor Oborevwori as a leader who assumed office fully prepared for the demands of governance, noting that his years of legislative experience provided a solid foundation for effective administration.
“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was prepared for the job of governing Delta State. His leadership style is not accidental. It is a reflection of years of experience in public service and a deep understanding of the state’s developmental needs,” he said.
The governor’s aide recalled that Oborevwori served as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly for six years, the longest-serving Speaker in the state’s history, and built a reputation for prudent financial management.
He noted that the governor demonstrated fiscal responsibility during his tenure as Speaker by returning more than N500 million in unspent funds to the state treasury at the end of his service.
According to Ifeajika, the same culture of accountability and transparency now guides the administration’s approach to governance.
“Every kobo spent by the government must attract value. The governor insists that public funds must be deployed for meaningful development. Projects are not awarded arbitrarily; they are based on the actual needs of communities,” he stated.
He disclosed that one of the administration’s most impactful policies was the introduction of dedicated infrastructure funding for each of the state’s 25 local government areas.
According to him, the government allocated N1 billion to each local government area in the 2023 budget for developmental projects, increased the allocation to N2 billion in the following year and further raised it to N4 billion in the current fiscal year.
The policy, he explained, was designed to ensure balanced development across the state and prevent the concentration of projects in a few urban centres.
“There is a deliberate intention to touch every local government almost simultaneously. Funds are already provided in the budget, and government only identifies the most pressing needs of the people before executing projects,” he said.
Ifeajika also highlighted the governor’s hands-on approach to governance, noting that Oborevwori regularly embarks on project inspection tours across the state to ensure contractors adhere to specifications and deliver quality jobs.
He dismissed suggestions that the governance ranking may have been influenced by lobbying, insisting that the recognition was based on verifiable achievements and measurable performance indicators.
According to him, the governor’s administration has continued to attract recognition from several organisations because of visible improvements in infrastructure, public service delivery and project execution.
“This cannot be dismissed as a fluke or something that was lobbied for. It reflects the reality on the ground in Delta State. The governor’s achievements are visible and have been acknowledged by different organisations,” he said.
Ifeajika further disclosed that the administration had strengthened accountability mechanisms by encouraging public participation and whistleblowing in the monitoring of government projects.
He expressed confidence that residents across the state would attest to the impact of ongoing projects and programmes, maintaining that the administration’s development footprint is evident in communities throughout Delta.
He said the latest ranking serves as an independent validation of Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda and the administration’s commitment to delivering inclusive growth, accountable governance and sustainable development across the state.
