By Oghenefejiro Emado
03, September 2026
The Delta State Government has unveiled a new set of measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the current economic hardship and strengthening the purchasing power of residents across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba on Thursday, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the initiatives were directed by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as part of a broader strategy to stimulate grassroots economic activity and ensure that the gains of ongoing economic reforms reach households directly. He was accompanied by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Felix Ofou.
According to Aniagwu, the improved financial position of the state has provided the administration with the fiscal space to execute major capital projects while consciously channelling resources in ways that boost local economies rather than fuel inflation. He said the governor has ordered an intensification of programmes that will directly improve citizens’ ability to earn and spend.
A central plank of the strategy is the planned massive renovation of schools across the state.
The commissioner explained that the school projects are designed not only to upgrade educational infrastructure but also to serve as economic stimulants, creating jobs for local contractors, artisans, suppliers and traders.
He noted that construction materials such as cement and roofing sheets would be sourced locally to ensure that government spending circulates within host communities and generates a multiplier effect on household incomes.
On workers’ welfare, Aniagwu disclosed that the government is working to institutionalise the payment of a 13th-month salary through legislation. He described the proposal as a deliberate intervention rather than indiscriminate cash handout, aimed at increasing the disposable income of civil servants and, by extension, stimulating spending in the local economy.
He further revealed that empowerment agencies have been directed to begin identifying beneficiaries for various state programmes.
The agencies include the Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The programmes, he said, will focus on business support, skills acquisition and other forms of economic empowerment to make beneficiaries self-reliant.
The administration is also linking its infrastructure drive to economic growth.
Aniagwu said sustained investment in road construction, particularly roads that connect rural communities and open up economic corridors, will reduce transportation challenges, ease movement of goods and services, and create a more enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
In addition, the government is pursuing investment outcomes from the state’s recent economic and investment summit.
This includes plans to attract investment in the local production of poultry feed and other agricultural inputs, which would curb capital flight to other states, create jobs for farmers and investors, and strengthen the agricultural value chain within Delta.
Aniagwu stressed that the government’s improved liquidity would be deployed judiciously into sustainable growth areas spanning education, healthcare, housing, roads and empowerment, rather than on unproductive spending.
He cited the construction of additional residential quarters for medical personnel, especially doctors, as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery and curb brain drain by providing decent accommodation for critical staff.
He acknowledged the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and other federal economic reforms, noting that while some reforms may be necessary, they have created unintended consequences that require sub-national interventions.
The Commissioner said the Oborevwori administration remains focused on governance and tangible benefits for the people ahead of the 2027 elections, urging Deltans to remain hopeful and support government programmes designed to translate macro-economic gains to the micro level and improve living standards.
