Coal, gas and a $100 million fund: what Delta pitched to investors
The highlights from the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit, three days in Asaba in August 2026.
From 3 to 5 August 2026, the Delta State Government gathered investors, ministers and business leaders at The Dome Event Centre in Asaba under the theme "Harnessing our strengths, unlocking our potential". The message was that Delta wants to be known for more than oil. Here is what it put on the table.
Who was there
Vice President Kashim Shettima opened the summit. Speakers included the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Anambra governor, Charles Soludo, the finance minister, Taiwo Oyedele, the Kenyan academic Patrick Lumumba, and the businessman Tony Elumelu, alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
A fund to share the risk
The headline announcement was money. The governor said the state had set aside US$100 million as viability gap funding, to take some of the risk out of strategic private investments. "We can no longer depend on one source of revenue," he told the summit.
What Delta is selling
The pitch leaned on infrastructure the state says it already has: about 2,600 kilometres of roads and more than 20 bridges, four seaports, two airports and a 163-kilometre coastline. A special economic zone is planned close to the OB3 gas pipeline, promising cheaper energy for industry.
The blue economy got its own push: aquaculture, commercial fishing, fish feed, cold-chain logistics and seafood processing. So did farming, with more than 12,000 hectares set aside for commercial agriculture and a Brazilian investor announcing plans for a cattle and beef value chain.
The numbers behind the pitch
The state put the size of its economy at about ₦17 trillion. As proof that public money can pull in private investment, it pointed to its 2022 equity stake in the UTM gas project: ₦42 billion then, which it says is worth ₦200 billion now.
Opening the summit, the Vice President made the case for moving quickly. "The best time to invest is now before the opportunity becomes expensive," Shettima said.
Coal and power in Anioma
The most concrete project was in the north of the state. Delta says it holds about 200 million tonnes of coal at Obomkpa, Ugbodu and Ukunzu, and Mosra Energy announced plans for a 600-megawatt power plant at Obomkpa, with more than 200 hectares already secured. Lignite, kaolin and silica were pitched for manufacturing too.
What happens next
Summits are about promises, and the test is what gets built. Delta has also taken its pitch on the road, with investment showcases in China and Brazil. We'll follow the projects announced in Asaba and report on how they progress.
If you're looking at an opportunity in Delta, our investment desk can point you to the right people. Discover Delta is independent of the state government.
AsabaRead next
- The 2026 summit: dates and details
- Invest in Delta
- Energy and infrastructure
- The blue economy
- Talk to the investment desk
Sources
- Economic summit: Delta, first-order investment destination, says Shettima (Delta State Government)
- Economic summit: Delta can no longer depend solely on oil, says Oborevwori (Delta State Government)
- Summit: Delta banks on infrastructure, blue economy, special economic zone (Delta State Government)
- Delta targets global investments at summit (The Guardian Nigeria)
- Oborevwori showcases Delta's comparative economic advantages as investment summit begins (BusinessDay)
Last checked 10 September 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp.
