Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday, welcomed the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Asaba, during the Authority’s nationwide inspection of seaports.
The NPA Chairman Prince Senator Adedayo Adeleye, commended Delta’s rapid growth, noting the strategic importance of the Warri, Burutu, Sapele, and Koko ports to Nigeria’s trade network. He praised the state government’s role in supporting maritime security but stressed the challenges of shallow waterways, underutilised port facilities, and the pressing need for dredging of the Warri channel.
He further called for the development of a deep sea port in Delta State through public-private partnerships, stressing its potential to expand the Blue Economy through shipping, fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy.
Responding, Governor Oborevwori assured the delegation of Delta’s full commitment to work with the Federal Government and private investors to modernise and revive the state’s ports. He emphasised that revamping the Warri channel and rehabilitating Warri and Koko ports are critical steps toward unlocking new trade routes, boosting industrialisation, and creating thousands of jobs.
The Governor highlighted Delta’s secure and business-friendly environment, backed by strong legal protections and functional Memoranda of Understanding with host communities. He pointed to ongoing multi-billion-naira infrastructural upgrades, including new flyovers and major highways executed by Julius Berger, as proof of the administration’s commitment to economic growth.
The visit, Oborevwori said, reaffirms Delta’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s trade and maritime logistics. He expressed optimism that strengthened collaboration with the NPA would position Delta as a hub for shipping and investment while advancing the country’s overall maritime economy.
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