It was a defining week in the administration of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori – a week that underscored his trademark blend of leadership, vision, and relentless drive for development.
From security reforms to infrastructure expansion, from judicial accountability to political consolidation, the governor moved through a series of landmark engagements that reflected both his determination to deliver on his MORE Agenda (Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security) and his ability to inspire confidence across political, economic and civic spaces.
Security As Foundation Of Growth
The week began on a decisive note as Governor Oborevwori launched the Delta State Security Trust Fund at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba. The event, attended by industry giants and security chiefs, was a convergence of business and governance around a single goal — sustained peace and safety in Delta.
With Access Holdings Chairman, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, as Chairman of the occasion; Zenith Bank Founder, Mr. Jim Ovia, as Special Guest of Honour; and Tantita Security Services Chairman, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), as Chief Launcher with a ₦10 billion donation, the event was both symbolic and strategic.
Oborevwori reminded his audience that security is the foundation upon which development stands. “Without security, no economy can thrive, no business can flourish, and no society can prosper,” he said, as he appealed for private sector partnership in equipping security agencies and sustaining peace across Delta’s 25 local government areas.
He announced that 0.5 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is being dedicated monthly to the fund, assuring that every kobo would be transparently managed. His tone was firm yet collaborative, a reflection of the public-private synergy that has become the hallmark of his leadership.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s renaming of Operation Delta Hawk to Operation Delta Sweep – a joint task force of all major security agencies in the state. The coordinated approach, he noted, had led to significant breakthroughs, including the recovery of dangerous arms from criminal elements and the disruption of illegal networks.
A Crackdown On Criminality
That declaration found expression when the governor visited the Delta State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba. The DSS had intercepted a cache of sophisticated weapons, marking a major victory in the fight against crime.
Visibly impressed, Oborevwori commended the DSS for its “strategic intelligence and determination” and ordered a statewide crackdown on criminal networks. He directed immediate arrest of the killers of a Warri youth leader, Jerry Aduara, warning that “there will be no hiding place for criminals in Delta.”
He also cautioned those with intent on disrupting the peace in Warri to desist, emphasising that his administration’s economic vision for the oil-rich city depends on stability.
“Bringing in heavy arms of this nature is unacceptable and a direct threat to our collective peace,” he warned.
The recovered arms, including General Purpose Machine Guns, AK-47 rifles, and hand grenades reinforced the scale of the threat, but also the depth of the government’s resolve. For Oborevwori, peace remains non-negotiable.
Infrastructure Renewal: From Vision To Concrete
Catching his breath, the governor moved from security to development. In Uvwie and Okpe local government areas, he performed the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Warri–Sapele–Benin Dual Carriageway, a project that he described as “a symbol of renewed partnership between the Federal and Delta State Governments.
“This road is not just a federal asset; it is a lifeline for Deltans and Nigerians. Its reconstruction represents hope restored and partnership renewed.”
With reinforced concrete pavement, stormwater drainage systems, and wider shoulders, the project promises safer travel and improved economic connectivity.
Oborevwori also disclosed that the state had paid ₦10 billion in compensation for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge access road, a testament to his government’s proactive investment in national infrastructure.
He tied the project to security as well, noting that bad roads often provide cover for criminals. “Once completed, this road will make movement safer and improve response time for security agencies,” he remarked.
The day’s event drew the who is who of Delta’s traditional and political landscape, including HRM Emmanuel Sideso, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom; Okakuro Mike Afe representing the Orodje of Okpe; and local government chairmen who hailed the governor’s foresight. In a symbolic gesture of gratitude, the Airport Road in Effurun was renamed Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori Way.
Against All Odds: Development In The Rain
Even heavy rainfall could not dampen the governor’s momentum. On Thursday in Ugbolu, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Oborevwori defied the elements to flag off the ₦21.3 billion Ugbolu–Okpanam Road project, a 12-kilometre arterial link designed to ease congestion in Asaba and strengthen rural-urban connectivity.
“This is not just a road,” he declared, drenched but undeterred, he said. “It is an economic corridor of opportunity and inclusion.”
The project, to be executed by Levant Construction Company, has already received 40 per cent advance payment, a reflection of the administration’s financial prudence. “We do not owe any contractor. Payments are made within five working days after certification,” the governor said, underscoring his zero-tolerance for contract variations.
The road, with its reinforced concrete drains and eight-metre-wide asphaltic lanes aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on infrastructure and sustainable cities. For the people of Ugbolu and Okpanam, it is also a promise fulfilled.
Local leaders, including Oshimili North council chairman, Innocent Esewezie and the Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo, lauded the governor’s MORE Agenda as not just a policy framework but a living reality transforming lives.
Reforms, Rule of Law, And The Human Face Of Governance
On Monday, Governor Oborevwori, in Asaba, addressed a different constituency – the judiciary. At the thanksgiving service marking the opening of the 2025/2026 Legal Year, he announced the abolition of arbitrary contract variations, describing it as a bold step to strengthen accountability and fiscal discipline.
He said: “No more upward reviews after agreements are signed. Every contract now carries a clause preventing such adjustments. This is how we build trust and transparency.”
Citing the Delta State Public Procurement Law, Oborevwori said the policy was part of his broader drive to institutionalise good governance under his MORE Agenda.
He spoke of a reformed wage structure that increased the state’s minimum wage by 158 per cent, higher than the Federal Government benchmark and a ₦70 billion release for pension arrears. The Widows’ Welfare Scheme, covering 10,000 beneficiaries, and youth empowerment initiatives, such as MORE Grant, MORE WISE-Up, and MORE Biz-Up, were cited as examples of the “human face” of his leadership.
For Oborevwori, governance is not just about infrastructure but about people, justice, welfare, and opportunity.
“The executive, legislature, and judiciary must work together to ensure every Deltan can live and dream in a society governed by fairness,” he emphasised.
A Political Tide Rising
The week began on Sunday with a political crescendo. The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) held a landmark stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Asaba, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori were endorsed as the party’s sole candidates for the 2027 general election.
The motion, moved by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and seconded by former Speaker Victor Ochei, was unanimously adopted. In a rare show of unity, the meeting brought together political heavyweights including former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Senators Ned Nwoko, James Manager, Ede Dafinone, and Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, among others.
Oborevwori, in his remarks, expressed gratitude and pledged to continue delivering development-driven leadership.
“Our votes will be our report card in 2027,” he said. “We will reward loyalty and performance, not hypocrisy.”
The APC State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, described the governor as “a rare gift to the South-South,” declaring that any party contesting against him “would run into a brick wall.”
Digital Future, Renewed Party
Capping the week, the governor hosted APC leaders from across the South-South for the E-Registration Hands-On Workshop, launching a digital membership system that promises accountability and inclusiveness. With over 280,000 members already registered in Delta, the governor reaffirmed his state’s leadership in technological adoption.
“This process will redefine political participation and ensure transparency,” he told delegates from the region, urging them to replicate the model in their states.
The Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, praised Oborevwori’s “purposeful leadership,” while the National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, hailed the initiative as a “landmark reform in Nigeria’s political system.”
The governor, on Friday, commissioned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) office in Warri.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, he restated his administration’s commitment to partner with the NDDC to fix federal roads in Delta.
He also expressed the state government’s readiness to partner with the NDDC on the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road projects, adding that a joint meeting between the state government, Chevron and the Commission would be held early next month to outline next steps.
Legacy In Motion
From fighting crime to building roads, from reforming governance to redefining politics, Governor Oborevwori’s week was a vivid portrait of a leader in motion, one whose agenda fuses pragmatism with purpose.
It was a week when security met development, when rain could not halt progress, and when governance spoke the language of both discipline and compassion. For the governor, the message was simple and clear: “I am not here for personal gain. I am here to leave legacies that generations will remember.”
And if the rhythm of this week is anything to go by, that legacy is already taking shape, steadily, visibly, and resolutely across the Delta landscape.
