With the announcement of the “Light Up To Industrialize Delta Initiative” by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in Asaba, the Delta State Government is well-positioned to address the state’s epileptic power supply problem.
The plan is a daring attempt to spearhead an ambitious scheme that would guarantee a 24-hour supply of power in the state to spur industrialization.
Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, presented the Oborevwori administration’s strategic roadmap to reposition the state as a center of industrial growth powered by reliable electricity.
Governor Oborevwori and representatives from Power Acumen Consulting Ltd. (PACL), Detail Solictors, and Nigeria Infrastructure Bank (NIB) met strategically on Wednesday at Government House in Asaba, which resulted in these positions.
Governor Oborevwori “approved the engagement of Power Acumen Consulting Limited to undertake a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of Delta’s electricity ecosystem,” according to Ekedayen.
According to him, this is the result of the consultants’ comprehensive research since late 2025, which involved interacting with stakeholders and examining institutional and infrastructure deficiencies along the power value chain.
He said that the firm’s interim assessment, which suggested a comprehensive revision of the state’s electrical laws and policy framework, was a sign of structural flaws that were deeply ingrained and that the administration was now ready to solve them.
“In the upcoming weeks, a comprehensive and practical roadmap will be delivered,” Ekedayen declared. The creation of a State Electricity Commission to oversee and coordinate the changing power industry would be a crucial reform element.
“Deltans will start to see quantifiable improvements in the supply of electricity in the not too distant future.”
The initiative’s operational framework was also clarified by Mr. Michael Anoka, the Commissioner for Energy, who described it as a “bold and transformative program” intended to unleash Delta’s industrial potential.
Anoka clarified that the state would make the most of its current power producing capability, especially from Okpai and Ughelli, where large amounts of electricity are still underutilized.
He stated, “Our priority is not generation, but efficient transmission and distribution,” adding that the administration wants to provide energy in Asaba and Warri around-the-clock within the next 12 months before expanding the initiative throughout the state.
He also revealed plans to create an independent State electrical grid and continued cooperation with Power Acumen Consulting and Benin electrical Distribution Company to improve distribution networks.
He clarified that this was an extraordinary step that was anticipated to maximize electricity delivery from several generation sources, such as Sapele, Okpai, and Transcorp Ughelli.
Anoka described electricity as the foundation of industrialization and emphasized that the program serves as a catalyst for economic transformation, job creation, and investment inflow in addition to providing power.
Speaking as well, Mr. Fidelis Tilije, the Commissioner for Finance, emphasized that financing would not be an issue and restated the state government’s steadfast financial willingness to support every stage of the effort.
He emphasized the importance of a steady power supply as a foundation for industrialization and stated that the government is still fully committed to providing the financial support required to guarantee the project’s successful completion.
Erhabor Okogun, Managing Director of Infrastructure Bank Plc, stated that Delta has the financial and resource foundation needed to propel extensive infrastructure development, supporting the state’s vision from a funding standpoint.
Engineer Matthew Edevbie of Power Acumen Consulting Ltd. (PACL), who offered additional technical insight during the briefing, emphasized the importance of power to sustainable growth, calling it the “lifeblood” of any prosperous economy.
Drawing on more than 20 years of expertise in the business, he pointed out that no significant industrialization can take place without dependable power, emphasizing that in order to achieve inclusive and long-lasting prosperity, true economic advancement must be consciously integrated with social fairness and environmental sustainability.
In order to establish a strong basis for long-term success and establish Delta State as a model for power-driven industrialization in Nigeria, he promised that Power Acumen Consulting Limited, as technical partners, would guarantee careful planning, execution, and monitoring of all project phases, especially the crucial twelve-month rollout period.
