SAO PAULO/Brazil: Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has called on Brazilian businesses to take advantage of the vast investment opportunities in the state, stressing that Delta is strategically positioned to become a leading hub for trade, agriculture, energy, and industrial development in Nigeria and West Africa.
Speaking at the Delta State-Focused Business and Investment Roundtable in São Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, the governor highlighted the state’s natural endowments, strategic location, and ongoing reforms designed to foster a friendly climate for investors. He described the engagement as a platform to deepen bilateral relations and forge partnerships that would accelerate sustainable growth for both Nigeria and Brazil.
Oborevwori underscored the strong historical and cultural ties between the two nations, noting similarities in agricultural potential, population size, tropical climate, cultural diversity, and a shared passion for football. “Delta is blessed with vast natural resources and youthful human capital, making it an attractive destination for investors,” he said.
Tracing the state’s journey since its creation in 1991, he explained that Delta has grown into one of the top five largest economies in Nigeria, with a population of more than six million people and a landmass of over 18,000 square kilometres. He noted that the state remains Nigeria’s leading producer of crude oil, with the country’s largest natural gas reserves and two major export terminals at Escravos and Forcados.
The governor also highlighted Delta’s strategic coastline, four seaports, and the ongoing concession of Burutu Seaport, which he said could become a major trans-shipment hub for West and South-West Africa. He added that Delta’s fertile soil supports a wide range of crops including cassava, rice, maize, and palm produce, as well as aquaculture and livestock, while the state is equally rich in solid minerals such as kaolin, silica, coal, lignite, and iron ore.
On infrastructure, Oborevwori said Delta serves as a vital connection to key Nigerian commercial centres such as Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba. He pointed to the state’s three functional airports and extensive investments in road networks as major drivers of accessibility and ease of movement.
Since assuming office in May 2023, the governor said his administration has prioritized policies that improve the ease of doing business, including tax harmonisation, the creation of free trade zones in Koko and Kwale, and business-friendly legislation. He further recalled that in 2024, Delta was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources as the safest state for oil and gas investments.
The governor disclosed that his administration is advancing agro-industrialisation with the development of a 180-hectare Agro-Industrial Park, expected to host up to 30 processing plants. He said new public-private partnership models are also being pursued in housing, energy, and manufacturing, alongside a decentralized mini-grid system aimed at boosting sustainable energy supply.
Expressing keen interest in Brazil’s globally renowned ranching system, Oborevwori said Delta is eager to learn from the model to improve livestock production. “I eagerly look forward to partnering with the business community of Brazil for our mutual benefit,” he concluded.
