Delta State is losing approximately N26bn annually due to the underutilisation of its natural and geographical assets, particularly along its coastline, according to Sunday Ofehe, the state’s Executive Assistant on External Relations.
Ofehe made this statement on November 8, 2024, during the launch of the National Business Masterclass in Lagos. The event, focused on positioning Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness, was organised by Top3 Solutions in partnership with the Institute of Certified Business Consultants Canada and Optiss Capital.
Highlighting the state’s vast untapped potential, Ofehe noted that Delta, particularly its Gulf of Guinea coastline, holds valuable resources that remain largely unexploited. He pointed out that the state has 65 square kilometres of coastline dedicated to fisheries but lacks protective policies to ensure local communities benefit from these resources.
“We have the potential to generate at least N26bn annually. Our 65-square-kilometre coastline dedicated to fishing is a valuable asset, yet no policies are in place to protect it, and foreign interests often take advantage of this gap,” Ofehe said. He added that some countries are taking fish from Delta’s waters at night while locals are unaware, further depriving the state of its resources.
Ofehe’s comments shed light on the pressing need for better management and protection of Delta’s natural resources to help boost the state’s economy and improve the livelihoods of its communities.
