Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, performed the groundbreaking of the Kwale Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, setting the stage for a transformative industrial boom in the state.
The initiative is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while attracting major local and international investors.
Describing the initiative as “a promise made, promise kept,” Gov. Oborevwori said the project would unleash unprecedented economic growth, attract global and local investors, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, positioning Kwale as a strategic hub for energy, petrochemicals, agro-processing, logistics, and manufacturing.
Highlighting Kwale’s strategic advantages, the governor said its 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. The company will manufacture conductors, cables, and gas cylinders for both the 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,” Gov. Oborevwori said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to provide infrastructure, regulatory support, and peace for investors to thrive, warning that the government’s property already compensated for would not be allowed to 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,” he added.
Deputy Governor of the state, Monday Onyeme, described the Kwale Free Trade Zone as the economic rebirth that Ndokwa land had long awaited.
He said that “this project is a blessing. 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.”
The deputy governor also noted that some investors had pledged to generate power for both industrial and community use.
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Also speaking, the former Governor of the state Ifeanyi Okowa, who chaired the occasion, praised Gov. Oborevwori for continuity in leadership.
“I am proud to be here. 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 10 years, this area will be transformed into a vibrant industrial city,” Okowa said.
He urged host communities to safeguard the project and even consider donating additional land for expansion, saying, “with the level of investment and available gas here, 1,000 hectares will not be enough. This is the beginning of a revolution in our state’s economic structure.”
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.
“What was once doubted is now a reality. We are not just building factories — we are building a brighter future for Deltans,” he said.
Managing Director of the Delta Special Economic Zone, Pastor Godwin Akpovie, revealed that over $100 million worth of investments have already been committed to the Kwale and Koko clusters.
“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 said.
The ceremony also featured goodwill messages from the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and major investors, including Xenergri Limited, Eastern Delta Wires Industries Limited, Africa Gas Access, Chorus Energy, and Masters Chemicals & Fertilizer Company, all of which pledged commitment to fast-tracking operations.
