…Economic Summit Set for August 3–5 to Unlock FDI and Accelerate Growth Prospects
By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq.
For discerning investors, capital follows certainty. Investment decisions are increasingly shaped by the quality of governance, regulatory efficiency, legal certainty, infrastructure, market accessibility and policy consistency rather than by natural resource endowment alone.
It was against this backdrop that Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Tilije, representing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Town Hall Meeting in Asaba, outlined a comprehensive package of institutional and policy reforms under the MORE Agenda.
The reforms are designed to improve the ease of doing business, deepen investor confidence, and position Delta State as Nigeria’s preferred destination for domestic and foreign investment ahead of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit, themed “Harnessing Our Strength, Unlocking Our Potentials”, scheduled for August 3–5, 2026. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr (Mrs) Okonjo-Iweala, will be attending the summit as a keynote speaker.
The reforms highlighted at the engagement form a critical foundation for the forthcoming Economic and Investment Summit, which is expected to move beyond investment promotion to a structured presentation of measurable reforms that are steadily reducing barriers to capital inflow and strengthening the state’s investment competitiveness.
At the heart of the Oborevwori administration’s economic strategy is the conviction that sustainable investment is anchored on strong institutions rather than incentives alone. Speaking at the PEBEC Town Hall, Tilije said the administration has implemented far-reaching reforms spanning land administration, investment facilitation, public-private partnerships (PPPs), revenue administration, security and commercial dispute resolution, key determinants of investor confidence and capital allocation decisions.
“Our reforms are designed to create a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly business environment. Delta State is peaceful, secure and ready for investment,” the Commissioner stated.
A key pillar of these reforms is the digital indexing and archiving of Certificates of Occupancy issued between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2024. The initiative modernises land administration, enhances title verification, reduces bureaucratic delays and lowers transaction risks associated with land acquisition, thereby strengthening regulatory certainty in property-related investments.
Complementing this is the institutionalisation of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA). The framework balances investor protection with host community interests, providing predictable access to land while reducing conflict risks in large-scale agricultural and agro-industrial investments.
The state has also advanced digital fiscal governance through the automation of its central billing system for taxes, levies and statutory payments across Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The reform curbs multiple taxation, improves revenue transparency, strengthens fiscal discipline and reduces compliance costs, which are key elements of a stable and predictable investment environment.
In the area of rule of law, the administration has reinforced enforcement of the Anti-Kidnapping Law while establishing Small Claims Courts capable of resolving commercial disputes within sixty days. This improves contract enforcement efficiency, reduces litigation timelines and enhances investor confidence in the justice system.
Collectively, these interventions reflect the MORE Agenda; Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms and Enhanced Peace and Security, which is increasingly functioning as a structured economic transformation framework rather than a political slogan.
Infrastructure investments across major road and transport corridors are improving logistics efficiency and lowering the cost of doing business, while targeted interventions in MSME development, skills acquisition and youth enterprise are expanding the state’s productive base and supporting inclusive growth.
Public-Private Partnership arrangements are also being strengthened to crowd in private capital into infrastructure, housing, healthcare, energy and urban development, thereby reducing fiscal pressure on government while expanding investment opportunities across key sectors.
The forthcoming Delta State Economic and Investment Summit will serve as a convergence point for these reforms, providing a platform to present a restructured investment environment that is increasingly aligned with global best practices in ease of doing business, regulatory governance and investment facilitation.
Beyond the summit, the long-term implications of these reforms are significant. Improved institutional quality, policy consistency and regulatory transparency are expected to stimulate increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), boost domestic capital formation and accelerate industrial diversification.
Over time, this trajectory is expected to deepen value-chain development in agriculture, petrochemicals, manufacturing, logistics, energy and services, while expanding employment opportunities and strengthening internally generated revenue through real economic expansion rather than fiscal pressure.
Delta State’s comparative advantages, its coastal geography, energy resources, agricultural potential, human capital base and strategic position within southern Nigeria, provide a strong structural foundation for economic transformation. When combined with ongoing reforms, these advantages position the state to evolve into a major sub-national economic hub.
Ultimately, the significance of the current policy direction lies in its coherence: a deliberate effort to reduce investment friction, strengthen institutions and build a predictable economic environment capable of sustaining long-term growth.
If sustained, these reforms could reposition Delta State not only as a leading investment destination, but also as one of Nigeria’s emerging economic centres where governance quality, private capital and productive enterprise converge to drive inclusive and sustainable prosperity.
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Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq, is the Director-General, Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Governor’s Office, Asaba. He is a member of the Institute of Legal and Policy Studies (ILPS).
