Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, unveiled
a major leap in the state’s journey toward industrial transformation as he performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kwale Free Trade Zone (KFTZ), in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
The KFTZ is a flagship component of the Delta Special Economic Zone Project.
In what he called “a promise made, promise kept,” Governor Oborevwori said the project would unleash unprecedented economic growth, attract global and local investors, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, thus positioning Kwale as a strategic hub for energy, petrochemicals, agro-processing, logistics, and manufacturing.
“Today’s groundbreaking is not just another project launch,” the governor declared.
“It is the fulfillment of our commitment to diversify Delta’s economy, expand our industrial base, and lay the foundation for generational prosperity. We are building a Delta where innovation, technology, and industry will thrive”, he added.
Highlighting the state’s comparative advantage, Oborevwori said Kwale’s abundant gas resources and central location make it a natural magnet for investors seeking cost-effective and energy-efficient industrial operations.
He revealed that eight companies had already indicated firm interest in operating from the zone, with two fully licensed, three approved for licenses, and three others in the final stages of regulatory processing.
“Delta State has invested over ₦3 billion in Delta Wires Industries, the first company to take off within this zone,” Oborevwori noted. “The company will manufacture conductors, cables, and gas cylinders for both LPG and CNG markets. This is how we intend to use our natural gas resources to power industrial growth and create jobs for our people.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to provide infrastructure, regulatory support, and peace for investors to thrive, warning that government property already compensated for would not be encroached upon.
“We have acquired 1,000 hectares of land, and full compensation has been paid. Anyone attempting to encroach on government property will be stopped. This project belongs to all Deltans, it is our collective future.”
Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, in his remarks as Chief Host, described the Kwale Free Trade Zone as the economic rebirth Ndokwa land had long awaited.
“This project is a blessing,” Onyeme said. “One company alone has promised to create 10,000 jobs. Imagine what will happen when 20 or 30 companies are fully operational here. The issue of unemployment in Ndokwa will soon be history.”
He noted that the industrial park would also help solve long-standing infrastructure gaps, particularly electricity supply, as some investors had pledged to generate power for both industrial and community use.
Former Governor of the State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who chaired the occasion, praised his successor for demonstrating continuity and leadership.
“I am proud to be here,” Okowa said. “Governor Oborevwori has continued where we stopped, and that is how great leaders build lasting progress. People may not fully understand what has been done today, but in five to ten years, this area will be transformed into a vibrant industrial city.”
Okowa urged host communities to safeguard the project and even consider donating additional land for expansion, warning that “encroachment will undermine the future prosperity of Ndokwa land.”
“With the level of investment and available gas here, 1,000 hectares will not be enough,” he said, adding, “this is the beginning of a revolution in our state’s economic structure.”
The Chairman of the Delta Special Economic Zone Management Company, Brig. Gen. Mike Ndubisi (rtd), described the groundbreaking as “a milestone for Delta’s industrial evolution.”
“This project will generate thousands of jobs and foster innovation,” he said. “What was once doubted is now a reality. We are not just building factories — we are building a brighter future for Deltans.”
Brig. Ndubisi commended both former Governor Okowa and Governor Oborevwori for their vision and consistency in driving economic diversification, and assured investors of a stable, transparent, and business-friendly environment.
Pastor Godwin Akpovie, the Managing Director of the Delta Special Economic Zone, revealed that over $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,” Akpovie revealed.
According to him, “These partnerships will enhance logistics, trade efficiency, and export capacity.”
He added that the African Development Bank’s 400-hectare Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone alone would create over 50,000 jobs, while BG Automotive’s gas vehicle conversion project could employ 10,000 youths within the first phase.
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 of which pledged commitment to fast-tracking operations.
From conception under Okowa to fulfillment under Oborevwori, the Kwale Free Trade Zone has emerged as a beacon of Delta’s economic renaissance, a testament to continuity, vision, and the dawn of a new industrial revolution in Nigeria’s oil-rich South-South.
