Delta Government Encourages Investors to Take Advantage of Improved Business Environment

Omon‑Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Delta State Government announced that it has carried out extensive reforms in key sectors of the local economy, resulting in a significant improvement in the ease of doing business within the state.

In light of these changes, the government has called on both local and foreign investors to explore the wide range of investment opportunities available, especially in areas where public policy, private capital, and local enterprise can collaborate to spur economic growth, create jobs, and deliver sustainable returns.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori made the appeal during a town‑hall meeting in Asaba, organised by the Delta State Government together with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) as part of a nationwide outreach to members of the organised private sector.

State Commissioner for Finance Sir Fidelis Tilije, who represented the governor at the event, explained that the Oborevwori administration has implemented far‑reaching reforms aimed at enhancing the business climate in the state.

These reforms address critical areas such as land administration, investment facilitation, public‑private partnerships, revenue administration, security, and dispute resolution.

Tilije noted that the state has “digitally indexed and archived Certificates of Occupancy issued between January 1 2012 and December 31 2024” to improve efficiency in land administration.

He also revealed that the government has issued an Executive Order to institutionalise the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land‑Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA) and has automated the central billing system for taxes, levies, and other government collections across ministries, departments, and agencies.

According to Tilije, the state has strengthened its legal framework by implementing the Delta State Anti‑Kidnapping Law, 2016, and establishing Small Claims Courts to ensure commercial disputes are resolved within 60 days.

These reforms were designed to create a more transparent, efficient, and investor‑friendly business environment, assuring prospective investors that Delta State is peaceful, secure, and ready for investment.

In her address, Princess Zahra Mustapha Audu, Director‑General of PEBEC, highlighted the critical role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in driving economic development.

The nationwide town‑hall engagements were intended to strengthen the ease of doing business at the sub‑national level while promoting reforms that would make states more attractive to investors, she explained.

Audu also highlighted the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, which links state funding to measurable improvements in land administration, regulatory processes, and tax administration.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the organised private sector, including representatives of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), and other business groups.