Unable To Attract Investors Yet Delta Governor Oborowheri Plans to Waste N5.1 Billion in 2026 To Travel

Onoja Baba

The Delta State Government has allocated a whopping sum of N5.1 billion for transport and traveling expenses in the Government House and Protocol section of its 2026 budget. This figure comes from proposed overhead costs that include N1.5 billion for general transport and traveling. The 2026 proposed amount for general transport and traveling represents an increase from the N650 million approved in 2025.

The overall 2026 budget presented by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the Delta State House of Assembly in November 2025 totaled N1.664 trillion, with N499 billion for recurrent expenditure and N1.165 trillion for capital projects. The assembly adjusted the budget to N1.73 trillion before the governor signed a final version of N1.729 trillion into law in December 2025. This budget size marks a 70 percent increase over the 2025 appropriation, with funding drawn from anticipated oil revenues, federal allocations, and internally generated revenue.

Government House and Protocol overhead costs are proposed at N32.997 billion for 2026, compared to N21.744 billion approved in 2025. The transport and traveling allocations account for about 15 percent of this section’s overhead budget.

Statewide overheads are set at N204 billion within the recurrent expenditure. Other allocations in Government House and Protocol include N794 million for maintenance of vehicles and capital assets (up from N497 million in 2025), N180 million for utility services (up from N90 million), N1.4 billion for entertainment and hospitality (up from N950 million), N2.5 billion for government publicity and press relations (up from N1.2 billion), and N18 billion for security (up from N10.649 billion).

Delta State relies on federal allocations and revenue from petroleum royalties as Nigeria’s third-largest oil producer. The administration disclosed an inherited debt of N465.4 billion accumulated under previous governors, including loans for infrastructure. The state has adopted a zero-borrowing posture for the 2026 budget, with no new loans since the governor’s inauguration.

In January 2026, the administration purchased 65 brand-new SUVs for traditional rulers at a cost of N10.4 billion. The vehicles included Prado Land Cruisers and other models presented to enhance the rulers’ roles in community governance. Similar distributions of SUVs occurred for state lawmakers and national assembly representatives. These procurements relate to broader transport outlays in the administration.

The opposition All Progressives Congress has accused the governor of inflating costs for projects such as flyovers in Warri and Effurun by N50 billion. The administration has abolished arbitrary contract variations and emphasized fiscal discipline. Infrastructure receives N450 billion in the 2026 budget for roads across the state. Each of the 25 local governments gets N7 billion for roads, health, and education. Social interventions are allocated N20 billion.

Civil society organization BudgIT has noted high deficit-to-revenue ratios around 70 percent in similar budgets, reflecting state-level fiscal patterns. In Delta, internally generated revenue trails oil revenues. Social media posts on the budget and related spending have received reactions, with some users expressing support for the governor’s initiatives. The administration states the budget supports the MORE Agenda for development opportunities, reforms, and security.

This report draws from official budget documents and public records. The Delta State Government was contacted for comment on the travel allocations but no response was received by publication time.