ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, has disclosed that the administration of Sheriff Oborevwori is scaling up development at the grassroots with what he described as unprecedented budgetary commitments aimed at transforming rural infrastructure and strengthening healthcare delivery across the state.
Speaking on The Morning Show on ARISE News on Sunday, Aniagwu revealed that the state government has allocated N7 billion to each of the 25 local government areas in the 2026 budget to address critical community needs and accelerate development at the local level.
He explained that the government initially earmarked N3 billion per local government—totalling N75 billion—for rural road expansion but that the governor subsequently approved an additional N4 billion per council to support interventions in healthcare, education, and other human capital priorities tailored to each locality.
“As I speak to you, every local government in Delta has N7 billion dedicated to it. When you multiply that by 25 local government areas, you are talking about N175 billion strictly for projects at the local level, aside from other statewide projects,” Aniagwu stated.
He noted that the initiative builds on earlier allocations introduced in previous budgets, recalling that each local government received N1 billion in 2024, which rose to N2.1 billion in 2025 after the administration reviewed outcomes and decided to expand funding for faster impact.
“This time around, the governor said we must not only expand rural road networks but also intervene in health, education, and other areas that are peculiar to each local community,” he added, describing the scale of the current allocation as unmatched by any other state government in the federation.
On healthcare, the commissioner said the increased funding complements more than N16 billion already committed to the sector, stressing that the administration’s strategy focuses not only on infrastructure but also on building skilled manpower to sustain service delivery.
He acknowledged the challenge posed by the migration of medical personnel abroad but said the government has intensified recruitment and training programmes to close manpower gaps and curb talent loss. As part of that effort, he cited the establishment of a College of Health Technology in Ovrode, Isoko North Local Government Area, dedicated to training nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Aniagwu further noted that Delta currently operates four state-owned universities actively involved in producing doctors and other high-level medical specialists, a development he said strengthens the state’s long-term healthcare capacity.
He also disclosed that Delta leads the country at the subnational level in contributory health insurance enrollment, with more than 2.8 million residents already covered.
“Today, with as little as N7,000, an enrolled person can access medical services in accredited hospitals without having to empty their pockets. Only the Federal Government comes close to our enrollment figures,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted ongoing renovations of more than 400 dispensaries statewide and upgrades to general and cottage hospitals, alongside construction of a new Specialist Hospital in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, to complement existing tertiary facilities in Asaba, Oghara, and Warri.
According to him, the government has also invested heavily in modern medical equipment, including advanced diagnostic technologies such as MRI scanners, which were previously available mainly in private facilities.
“We are not just building structures; we are equipping them with modern technology and strengthening the manpower needed to run them,” Aniagwu said, emphasizing that the administration’s integrated focus on rural infrastructure, healthcare access, and human capital development is designed to raise living standards and drive inclusive growth across Delta State.
