Oborevwori cuts Delta’s legacy debt from N463bn to N63bn

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori

By Veronica Odion

The Delta State Government says it has reduced the state’s legacy debt from N463 billion to N63 billion under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, with plans to clear the outstanding N63 billion by the first quarter of 2027.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this yesterday at the state’s 2026 budget stakeholders’ engagement in Asaba.
Ekedayen attributed the reduction to the administration’s commitment to prudent financial management and responsible utilisation of public resources.
He said the government would prioritise roads and critical infrastructure in the 2027 budget to stimulate economic growth and improve access to communities across the state.
According to him, the current expenditure structure allocates about 70 per cent to capital projects and 30 per cent to recurrent expenditure, a pattern the proposed 2027 budget would sustain.
The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), stressed the importance of citizens’ participation in budget preparation and commended the government for its reported budget performance.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations (CSOs) at the engagement welcomed plans by the Delta State House of Assembly to introduce legislation to regulate housing issues.
A stakeholder, Comrade Odugala, urged residents to protect public facilities and maintain environmental cleanliness to complement government investments in infrastructure.
“Government cannot continue to build infrastructure, then citizens begin to destroy them,” he said.
He also commended the state government for introducing the 13th-month salary, describing it as a significant milestone.
—GN