By Ovie Okpare
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, took a major step toward industrialising the state as he performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kwale Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
The KFTZ, a flagship project under the Delta Special Economic Zone Initiative, is designed to attract global and local investors, create jobs, and position Delta as a key industrial hub in the South-South region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oborevwori described the project as “a promise made and a promise kept,” adding that the initiative would unlock unprecedented economic growth across the state.
“Today’s groundbreaking is not just another project launch. It is the fulfillment of our commitment to diversify Delta’s economy, expand our industrial base, and lay the foundation for generational prosperity,” the governor said.
“We are building a Delta where innovation, technology, and industry will thrive”, Oborevwori further declared.
Highlighting Kwale’s strategic advantage, Oborevwori said the area’s abundant gas resources and central location make it ideal for energy-driven industries.
He disclosed that eight companies have already signified interest in operating from the zone, with two fully licensed, three approved, and three others in the final stages of regulatory clearance.
“Delta State has invested over ₦3 billion in Delta Wires Industries, the first company to take off within this zone. The firm will produce conductors, cables, and gas cylinders for LPG and CNG markets. This is how we will use our gas resources to power growth and create jobs for our people”, the governor added.
Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing infrastructure, security, and an investor-friendly environment. He also warned against encroachment on lands acquired for the project.
“We have acquired 1,000 hectares of land and full compensation has been paid. Anyone attempting to encroach will be stopped. This project belongs to all Deltans—it is our collective future,” he warned.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, described the Kwale Free Trade Zone as “the economic rebirth Ndokwa land has long awaited.”
“One company alone has promised to create 10,000 jobs. Imagine what will happen when 20 or 30 firms are fully operational here,” Onyeme said, stressing that “Unemployment in Ndokwa will soon be history.”
He added that some investors had pledged to generate power for both industrial and community use, helping to address long-standing electricity challenges in the area.
Also speaking, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who chaired the event, commended his successor for demonstrating continuity and vision.
“Governor Oborevwori has continued where we stopped. That’s how great leaders build progress,” Okowa said. “In five to ten years, this area will be transformed into a vibrant industrial city.”
He urged host communities to protect the project and even consider donating additional land for expansion.
“With the level of investment here, 1,000 hectares will not be enough. This is the beginning of a revolution in our state’s economic structure,” he added.
Chairman of the Delta Special Economic Zone Management Company, Brig.-Gen. Mike Ndubisi (rtd), described the groundbreaking as a “milestone in Delta’s industrial evolution.”
“We are not just building factories; we are building a brighter future for Deltans,” Ndubisi said.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Delta Special Economic Zone, Pastor Godwin Akpovie, disclosed that more than $100 million worth of investments have already been committed to the Kwale and Koko clusters of the project.
“We are partnering with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the African Development Bank to link Koko Port to Kwale through a new industrial corridor,” he revealed.
The Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Council, Chief Obi Nzete, pledged the council’s support in protecting all investments within the zone, describing the initiative as “a landmark step toward economic transformation.”
The ceremony also featured goodwill messages from the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and major investors, including Xenergri Limited, Eastern Delta Wires Industries Ltd, Africa Gas Access, Chorus Energy, and Masters Chemicals & Fertilizer Company, all pledging to fast-track operations.
