Governor Oborevwori Drops Delta’s Debt from ₦463bn to ₦63bn, Targets March 2027 for Full Clearance

The Delta State Government says it has reduced its legacy debt from ₦463 billion to ₦63 billion, representing a reported reduction of ₦400 billion, with plans to clear the outstanding balance by the first quarter of 2027.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this during the state’s 2026 Budget Stakeholders’ Engagement held in Asaba on Friday.

Ekedayen attributed the reported reduction to the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to prudent financial management and responsible utilisation of public resources.

He said the government was targeting the settlement of the remaining ₦63 billion within the first quarter of 2027.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state would prioritise road construction and other critical infrastructure in the proposed 2027 budget to stimulate economic growth and improve access to communities across Delta.

According to him, the government’s current expenditure structure allocates approximately 70 per cent to capital projects and 30 per cent to recurrent expenditure.

He said the proposed 2027 budget would sustain the emphasis on capital expenditure while maintaining a smaller allocation for recurrent spending.

Asagba, CSOs Comment on Budget Priorities

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, emphasised the importance of citizens’ participation in the budget preparation process and commended the state government for its reported budget performance.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) at the engagement also welcomed plans by the Delta State House of Assembly to introduce legislation regulating housing issues.

Speaking at the event, Odugala urged residents to protect public facilities and maintain environmental cleanliness to complement government investments in infrastructure.

He said government investments would achieve greater value when citizens took responsibility for protecting public assets.

“Government cannot continue to build infrastructure, then citizens begin to destroy them,” Odugala said.

He also commended the state government for introducing the 13th-month salary, describing the initiative as a significant milestone.