Delta State Government says it has committed N50 billion to road infrastructure in the 25 local government areas.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori disclosed this at the 2025 Edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture, themed “Local Governance and Sustainable Development”, on Wednesday in Asaba, the state capital.
According to the governor, for about two years, the state government simply, but deliberately committed N2 billion for each council as grassroots development, saying sustainable development is not a slogan, but must be felt in every ward, village and town across the state.
Represented by Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, the governor hinted that sustainable development demands that the government meets the present needs of their people without compromising the future.
“We invested over N2 billion each on road projects across 25 LGAs of the state to foster connectivity and economic activity. Though our approach is simple, it was deliberate”, he said.
“When local governments function well, communities thrive, roads are maintained, schools function, healthcare becomes accessible and our youths find purpose in life.”
In a welcome address, Chairman, Maris Trust Council, Sir Kenneth Olise, represented by Mr. Paul Enebeli, former President General, Ndokwa Neku, thanked all who contributed to the sixth edition of the lecture series. He said that it started in 1999 and was instituted in memory of Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo, and commended the Secretary of Maris Trust Council, her father, Mr. Fidelis Egugbo, for working hard to sustain the annual lecture series.
Also, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Delta Commissioner for Works(Rural Roads) and Public Information, urged the council to prioritise issues addressing the needs of the people at the grassroots.
“Consult with the people because the essence of governance is to reach out to majority of the people within the limited resources,” Aniagwu said
Chairman of the occasion, His Imperial Majesty, Obi Oputa III, lauded the guest lecturer for the impactful knowledge and thanked the governor for the infrastructural development of the state.
The guest lecturer and keynote speaker, Sir Patrick Ejidoh, former Managing Director, Champions Breweries, called for collective action, a well-defined framework and plan of action to achieve good governance and sustainable development at the local government councils.
He said that attaining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may not be realisable in 2030 due to a lack of measurable indices and clear road map, hence it requires collective efforts towards achieving the SDGs.
