Delta State Government said it has committed N50 billion to road infrastructure in the 25 local government areas.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori disclosed this in his remarks at the 2025 Edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture themed “Local Governance and Sustainable Development” on Wednesday evening in Asaba, the State capital.

According to the governor, for about two years, the government simply but deliberately committed N2 billion for each council as grassroots development, saying sustainable development was not a slogan but must be felt in every ward, village, and town across the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, the governor hinted that sustainable development demands that the government meets the needs of today without compromising the future.

“We invested over N2 billion each on road projects across all 25 LGAs of the state to foster connectivity and economic activity. Though our approach is simple, but deliberate,” he said.

“When local government functions well, communities thrive, roads are maintained, schools function, healthcare becomes accessible, and our youths find purpose.”

In his welcome address, the Chairman, Maris Trust Council, Sir Kenneth Olise, represented by Mr Paul Enebeli, former President General, Ndokwa Neku, thanked all who contributed to the sixth edition in the series.

He said that the lecture series started in 1999 and was instituted in the memory of Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo, and commended the Secretary of Maris Trust Council, Mr Fidelis Egugbo, for working to sustain the annual lecture series.

The Chairman of the Occasion, His Imperial Majesty, Obi Oputa III, lauded the guest lecturer for the impactful lecture and thanked the governor for the infrastructural development in the state.

The Guest Lecturer and Keynote Speaker, Sir Patrick Ejidoh, former Managing Director, Champions Breweries, called for collective action and a well-defined framework and plan of action to achieve good governance and sustainable development at the local government councils.

He said that attaining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may not be realisable in 2030 due to a lack of measurable indices (data) and clear road maps, and a lack of monitoring, adding that it requires a collective effort of all to achieve.