By Oghenefejiro Emado
11, September 2026
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to transform the state’s maritime sector, expand critical infrastructure and strengthen collaborations with international development partners to achieve sustainable economic growth.
The Governor made this known on Thursday when he received a delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, led by Mr. Massimo De Luca, who paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, expressed satisfaction with the assurance from the EU delegation that plans have reached an advanced stage for the development of the Burutu Port as part of a coastal corridor that will connect Lagos through Burutu to Onitsha and Ajaokuta.
The Governor said his administration has been talking about the blue economy since it came on board and is very eager to take part in it and reap its enormous benefits.
He explained that the proposed development of waterway and maritime transportation across the region presents a very exciting and promising opportunity for Delta State.
According to him, as a state blessed with an extensive network of waterways, Delta is fully prepared to provide all the necessary cooperation and support to ensure that the vision, which he described as a collective dream, becomes a reality.
He pointed out that the state has been talking about developing its blue economy and seaports for many years, but this is the first time he is seeing such a strong combination of serious-minded institutions and development partners coming together with a clear commitment to make the dream come true.
He added that with the European Union, development partners and other key institutions standing together to support the initiative, there is every reason to be optimistic about its success.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, the Governor thanked the EU delegation for its continued partnership and support to the state.
He also commended the European Union for its willingness to collaborate with the state to improve the welfare of persons living with disabilities, particularly by providing support and opportunities that will help them live more independent and productive lives, noting that it is a very important area of intervention.
He assured the delegation that the Delta State Government will provide all the necessary support and cooperation needed to bring the project to fruition.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Massimo De Luca said the main focus of their visit to Delta State is the Blue Economy and related activities, with emphasis on the Sea-Link Project.
He noted that the European Union has a long history of supporting development initiatives in Delta State, having supported dozens of community projects across all the local government areas of the state over the years.
He listed some of the projects to include water infrastructure, schools, health centres, civic centres, palm-oil processing facilities and other community-based investments.
De Luca described the Sea-Link Project as a very important initiative, explaining that for more than a decade, the development of coastal transportation along the West African coast has been high on the agenda of Nigeria and West Africa. In the case of Nigeria, he said, a natural extension of the concept is the development of a link between the major ports currently centred around Lagos and the Niger Delta, extending further up the River Niger.
He said the project falls under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, a general framework which the EU Ambassador had also discussed with the Governor during his visit a few months ago.
He explained that the first major impact of the project will be to shift traffic from the roads to the rivers and coastal waterways, while also creating new business opportunities and stimulating economic activities.
He noted that looking at the geography of the project, there is already an existing port that may require substantial rehabilitation but is strategically located in the Niger Delta, referring to the Port of Burutu.
He said Burutu has excellent geographical conditions and significant competitive advantages in terms of accessibility and its potential to support both maritime and inland waterway transportation.
According to him, the Sea-Link as currently envisaged would establish a route from Lagos, through the coastal corridor to Burutu, and then up the River Niger through Onitsha and onward to Ajaokuta.
He revealed that the EU and its partners are already assembling the various components of the financing structure, as a consortium involving several parties will participate in the project.
He added that the required investments will cover several components, including barges and port infrastructure, especially infrastructure at Burutu.
He further stated that beyond serving as a stopover along the route to the River Niger, Burutu has the potential to be developed into a fully-fledged international port.
He said there is a dual aspect to the project, with the potential to develop Burutu into a port that is open to the ocean and international trade, similar in some respects to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.
