There is need to do more to achieve better female access to political power
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates released for the 2027 general election has continued to elicit debates, with candidates and political parties challenging alleged omissions or substitutions. The elections are for presidency, senate, governorship, house of representatives, and state houses of assembly. For instance, the Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim whose name is not on the list, has challenged INEC. In many states of the federation, there are also contentions as to the real candidates for the elections.
While candidates whose names are missing blame the electoral body, the commission has dismissed their claims. “INEC did not commit any infraction. The commission handed over access codes to all the political parties to upload their candidates’ names, and INEC published what was submitted,” according to the deputy director, Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah. We agree with the commission. Most of the cases are internal disputes within the parties that are being litigated in court. The more substantial issue is that women remain significantly underrepresented, constituting only 9.65 per cent of candidates for all the elections.
From a total of 4,881 candidates cleared by INEC for the three elections (presidency, Senate and House of Representatives), only 471 are women, while 4,410 are men, representing 90.35 per cent. “Even when women get slots, such positions are presented as merely ticking off the box, and not necessarily a rightfully deserved position. The implication is that pressing issues concerning women take the back seat and are treated with levity,” said the Project Officer, Renevlyn Development Initiative, Tracy Ohovwore. “The minimal inclusion and abysmal representation of women in all strata of government and in political activities in Nigeria is the reflection of a deep and worrying trend in our society.”
It is disappointing that our political process increasingly disempowers women. At this moment when we require the contribution of every citizen for the peace and prosperity of the country, we cannot continue with one hand tied behind our national back by excluding women from political offices. The cost of such exclusion is not paid by them alone; it is paid by all of us, in a development deficit that compounds with every election cycle we allow to pass without correction. It is worrying because it has been a consistent pattern under the current political dispensation.
Available data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union reveal that Nigeria currently ranks 180th out of 185 countries evaluated globally for women’s representation in parliament. In sub-Saharan Africa, a region not exactly renowned for its feminist governance traditions, Nigeria sits at the very bottom. The region’s average is 27.3 per cent. Rwanda, our continental exemplar, has achieved 61.3 per cent women in its legislature. Sierra Leone enacted a Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act in 2023 and within months saw women win 30.4 per cent of parliamentary seats.
The picture in the executive arm tells the same story. Across the country’s 36 states, women hold just nine per cent of political offices. Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, not a single woman has been elected governor of any of Nigeria’s 36 states. Against the background that even when women contest elections, their chances of winning are far less than that of men, it is already settled that fewer of them will be in government in the dispensation after 2027.
Therefore, as we have canvassed in the past, there is need for our political parties to come up with an inclusive arrangement to accommodate our women. But a situation where parties come into existence only at election seasons and disappear afterwards can hardly advance the cause of women. Nor can such parties that are not founded on any ideals or ideas become instruments for gender inclusivity. Yet as a nation, we must find a way to confront the challenge of under-representation of our women in political offices.
THE BIG HEART ECONOMIC WORLDVIEW
CHUKWUEMEKA UWANAKA urges Delta State to take after UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman as economic development model
“The Delta State Government has set aside $100 million, approximately ₦133 billion, as a Viability Gap Fund to de-risk new investments in the state. This demonstrates our commitment to turning investment commitments into measurable economic impact”. Governor Sherrif Oborevwori, August 3, 2026.
At the recently concluded Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba from August 3 – 5, 2026, the choice of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization as keynote speaker, puts into context, the economic aspirations of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta state within the context of the global economy. For a state with the sobriquet the ‘Big Heart’ of Nigeria, this global economic context looks feasible, especially when compared with the global economic achievements of some countries with relative comparative resource endowment, population and geographical factors such Qatar, Oman, UAE, Bahrain. It is therefore within this global framework of economic aspiration, and commitments from the economic summit, that certain catalysing sectors such as energy, digital economy, aviation, maritime, real estate and steel, can be assessed, for what is essentially a ‘Big Heart’ economic worldview.
Understanding the features of Delta state is important. With an estimated population 7.8 million and gross domestic product (GDP) of $40 billion, this energy-rich coastal state has four maritime ports, two airports, and an entreprising population. Delta state can therefore be assumed to be at the breakout stage that relatively comparable political entities such as Qatar ($215 billion GDP, 3.1 million pop), UAE ($571 billion GDP, 11.5 million pop), Oman ($105 billion GDP, 5 million pop), and Kuwait ($157 billion GDP, 5 million pop) as they were a few decades ago, before strategic leadership in these countries propelled them to their current socioeconomic standards. One major caveat in this comparison is that Delta state is a sub-national unit, and constitutionally lacks macroeconomic and foreign policy powers like these Gulf countries. This is taken into consideration, as some of the sectors that can optimally situate the state in the global economy are assessed.
First, the energy sector. While Delta state aims to enhance the contribution of its non-oil sector to economic development, the energy sector, especially petroleum, still has a major role to play. One of the major business decisions that has affected Delta state and Nigeria, has been the divestment of International Oil Corporations (IOCs) such as Shell, Chevron, Eni/AGIP, ExxonMobil and Total Energies from onshore and shallow water assets in Nigeria, especially since 2015. This divestment has led to oil production in Nigeria declining from 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in August 2012, to 1.5 million bpd in July 2026. At the macro level, this IOC divestment and subsequent production decline has contributed to Nigeria’s total external debt rising from $6.53 billion in 2012 to $51.9 billion in March 2026, as the federal and many state governments have had to borrow externally to augment severe revenue decline, while the federal government still struggles to implement its capital budget beyond 30 percent due to recurring revenue shortfalls.
At the sub-national level, energy-resource endowed states such as Delta state, have borne the brunt of IOCs divestment, as previous IOC capital, real estate, machinery and associated servicing companies have largely exited from Warri and other parts of the state. This has impacted the onshore investment inflow and its associated cyclical economic activities, which Delta state had been receiving since the 1960s. While domestic oil companies such as Renaissance Energy, Seplat Energy and Oando are making significant progress in energy investment in the state, the economic void left by the IOCs remain, as Gulf countries that Delta state have comparable prospects with, retain and facilitate IOC investments, not divestment. Delta state therefore will be best served with onshore energy and associated infrastructure investment from IOCs.
Given that major decisions by IOCs are made in Europe and the United States (U.S.) where the IOCs have their headquarters, any feasible attempt at attracting onshore IOC investments back into Delta State will require commensurate international human capital and strategy. This is where persons such as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO DG, return as strategic capital. After many years of unsuccessful attempts at securing external debt relief, the Nigerian government under President Olusegun Obassanjo appointed Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as Finance Minister in 2003. Though Nigeria was technically ineligible for foreign debt relief, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who had risen to Vice President at the World Bank before becoming Finance Minister, utilised her intellect, skills, teamwork and commensurate networks to facilitate the then total $30 billion foreign debt relief for Nigeria in 2005, with an $18 billion discount. Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who has origins in the state, is therefore the type of strategic human asset and person with gravitas and experience in international economic negotiations that Gov. Oborevwori requires to successfully convince IOCs to restart onshore, shallow water and dollar-based energy infrastructure investments in the state. IOCs are commercial concerns that can reverse their divestment decision in certain locations if there is evidence that many of the concerns that necessitated the divestment decision have been addressed. Negotiation is key, as IOC presence in many Gulf countries such as Qatar and Kuwait are due to negotiations between Gulf leaders and IOCs. Furthermore, the geopolitical risks with energy investments in the Gulf region have provided an opportunity for alternative sources without geopolitical choke-holds, which Delta state and Nigeria can provide.
Working with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, can be Prof. Ibe Kachikwu, the Harvard educated former Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria, who has had stints as President of Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources. With roots in Delta state, his IOC, political and industry experience, can significantly complement the efforts of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, and Gov. Oborevwori- who has sustainably addressed the security and community issues that contributed to IOCs onshore divestment.
And Gov Oborevwori may also want to strategically harness some of the energy investment policies introduced by Kachikwu as GMD of NNPCL and Petroleum Minister, especially the co-locationing policies for petroleum refinery investment. Given the capital intensive cost of infrastructure for new refineries, the co-locationing policy recommended that new refineries be developed in proximity with existing refineries, which allows for reduced development cost and faster project cycles, as well as optimization of existing infrastructure assets. With this policy in view, Gov. Oborevwori can leverage on his relationship with the ruling party and federal government to secure a concession of a minimum of 51 percent equity in the federal government and NNPCL-owned Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) under the existing privatisation legal framework of government through the Bureau for Public Entreprises, to a consortium comprising Delta State government and the persons or commercial interests of Tony Elumelu (Seplat and Heirs Energy), Austin Avuru (Platform Petroleum), Benedict Peters (Aiteo Petroleum), Nduka Obaigbena (Global Hydrocarbon Resources and OML 120), among others. Gov Sheriff should utilise political relationship with FG to speed up the approval process, especially with Austin Avuru, Chairman of Delta Economic Summit as a NNPCL board member.
Still on the co-locatioing policy, the proposed new 100,000 bpd refinery by Aiteo Petroleum in the state should be located in proximity of Warri Refinery. With Warri refinery having total nameplate design capacity of 125,000 bpd, and Delta State producing 340,000 bpd of oil in 2024, a rehabilitated Warri Refinery with Delta State government led consortium owning 51 percent plus Aiteo Petroleum’s 100,000 bpd refinery project will have sufficient crude oil feed-stock to facilitate new high-skilled energy sector jobs and investments that come with refineries, similar to what is present in Gulf countries. And there is some precedence to state governments securing concessions from the federal government in the sector. Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Ltd where Delta State government owns some equity, was allocated a marginal field under the strategic Olusegun Obasanjo administration in the 2000’s. Gov. Oborevwori can therefore utilise this existing framework, as part of economic measures to ensure that value addition takes place in resources from the state. There is also a return on investment (ROI) projection to this type of investment, as the N42 billion invested into UTM Offshore for 8 percent equity in Nigeria’s first private Floating LNG under former Govenor Ifeanyi Okowa, is said to have increased in value of Delta state’s equity by over 400 percent.
With energy serving as a catalyst for other major economic sectors, the drive towards re-engagement of IOCs back onshore can also facilitate investment into the digital economy- essentially the ‘new oil’. Data centres serve as the backbone of the critical artificial intelligence (AI) sub-sector. Data centres however require lots of energy and water for operations, both of which Delta state has in large quantities, and can leverage for significant attraction of AI investment and infrastructure into the state. Chevron, one of the IOCs in focus, has a model that can feasibly be adopted in Delta state for AI infrastructure, and additionally attracting investment from global tech companies such as Microsoft, Meta and Google.
In June 2026, Chevron and Microsoft signed a 20-year agreement to power a huge AI data center in West Texas using local natural gas, with first power delivery projected for 2028. Known as ‘Project Kilby’, it features a co-located, off-grid power facility that is expected to consume 2.67 gigawatts of electricity, through a phased, modular approach that supports incremental expansion over time. A majority of the generation will come from large GE Vernova turbines and associated electrical infrastructure, while additional capacity will be provided by Solar Turbines, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Chevron’s project design includes advanced solutions for reuse of produced water from oil and gas operations, advanced air emissions control technologies, including Selective Catalytic Reduction systems designed to reduce NOx emissions, plus methods that reduce noise and light impacts on surrounding communities to the minimum. Kilby has a full project cost of US$10 billion, and is expected to support thousands of jobs, and generate over $10 billion in state and local taxes plus wider economic benefits.
A similar project is feasible in Delta state, as some of the concerns that currently hinder AI infrastructure expansion in some mature economies are not present in Delta state. The state produces 318.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per annum. Delta state has feedstock for additional refining and gas processing facilities and associated industries. The Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline which supplies gas and electricity to Lagos state plus the 650,000 bpd Dangaote Refinery in Lagos, as well as West African Gas Pipeline that supplies energy to some West African countries, has its gas and infrastructure originating from Delta state.
GE, which supplies the gas turbines, has presence in neigbhouring Abia state, with its turbines powering gas-based electricity for Geometric Power in Aba and environs. Delta can partner with Geometric power for de-risking supply of GE gas turbines. Also, such project ensures that Delta not only export just gas, but is a location for industry and firms that provide high skilled jobs and earnings. The potentials that IOCs presence bring for investment in the ‘new oil’ and other sectors underscore its importance, and the task for Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Kachikwu, with the Nduka Obaigbena’s media empire potentially available for international branding of Delta state as investment destination. As Africa remains a growth market for big tech, there is a demand by big tech companies for low risk opportunities for large scale data centres in areas with access to gas for energy and water for cooling such as Delta state, as this African presence reduces latency and enhances their market expansion. The presence of GE turbines in neighbouring Abia state and a talent pool for construction, maintenance and management makes Delta state a viable location. If the IOC return convinces Chevron to further replicate its partnership model with Microsoft in Delta state, it will provide a proof of concept that Microsoft’s competitors in AI infrastructure such as Google, Meta and OpenAI will explore in Delta state. The $100 million Viability Stability Fund (VSF) can also come in handy here.
Aviation is the next sector for assessment in the state, as it is a major catalyst for any political unit with global and major economic aspirations. Just as Qatar, UAE and similar countries have access to regular international flights, Delta state will require international flights into the state, to facilitate the desired international investment and IOC presence. Delta is well primed with for international flights, with its two airports at Asaba and Osubi airstrip (Warri) currently running scheduled domestic daily flights. The economic aspirations of the state however require that international and domestic investors should be able to directly fly in and out of the state. That Delta is the only state in Nigeria with two viable airports, is testament to its existing economic potentials. The state government therefore needs to upgrade bigger Asaba airport to an international airport, and work towards facilitating international flights into the state.
Though aviation is on Nigeria’s exclusive legislative list, a number of state governments in recent years have been able to upgrade their airports, and also facilitate international flights into their states. In Akwa Ibom, the state government has completed the upgrade of the Victor Attah International Airport, while Ibom Air started operating international flights from the airport in 2026. The Enugu State government is expanding the FG owned Akanu Ibiam international Airport under concession from FG, while its Enugu Air will commence direct flights to Guangzhou China by December 2026, though Ethiopia Airlines has been operating international flights from Enugu since August 2013. A key enabler of this international aviation development by state governments, has been the liberal facilitation policies of Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, Nigeria’s aviation minister. His policy and governance framework have facilitated direct flights and routes by Nigerian airlines such as Air Peace to London Heathrow, the Caribbean, across Africa and Brazil upcoming. United Nigeria Airline has commenced international flights in 2026, while the Uyo airport also commenced international flight operations in 2026. Keyamo’s efforts have also led to the establishment of a Nigerian Aircraft Leasing Company and issued Practice Direction for the Cape Town Convention in 2024. Therefore, facilitating the upgrade and approvals of Asaba Airport for international operations should be efficient.
For commercial viability, the existing commercial and diaspora relationship by oil companies and people of Delta, and the neighbouring Edo, Anambra and Imo states, suggests that direct flights to a major European airport such as Amsterdam Schipol Airport will be viable. Asaba has existing road infrastructure to Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Imo states to facilitate international passenger traffic in and out of Europe. Delta state government can therefore partner with any of existing flag carriers already operating international routes such as Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines or Ibom Air to commence direct European flights from Asaba airport, as they will have faster accreditation and approval with European aviation authorities. Air Peace, which flies daily to London Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as to Asaba and Osubi, may have a faster approval with the Dutch aviation authorities. That Olorogun Keyamo SAN has origins from Delta state is an additional fillip for faster facilitation.
The maritime sector is another sector that Delta state requires to facilitate its global economic aspirations. UNCTAD estimates that over 80 percent of global trade is maritime based, which explains why the Dubai Port and other major maritime ports in the Gulf and across the world are of critical economic importance. Refined products from an upgraded Warri Refinery and the proposed Aiteo Refinery will require efficient maritime ports for exports and economic competitiveness, similar for ICT infrastructure, gas turbines and other industries. Though maritime is federally controlled through the exclusive legislative list, state governments in Nigeria have been making commendable efforts in developing their maritime assets. They include the Lagos state’s Lekki Deep Sea Port, Cross River’s Bakassi Deep Sea Port project with Afreximbank support, the Ibom Deep Sea Port project in Akwa Ibom, Abia State’s Obeaku Port project with China Harbour and Imo State’s Oguta Port expansion project in Orashi Free Zone Area.
Delta state has the enviable record of having four maritime ports namely Warri, Sapele, Koko and Bururtu. These federal government owned and managed ports however remain very inefficient, saddled by poor infrastructure, with the Escravos Channel not properly managed, all resulting in low cargo traffic at the ports. The then Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, Oborevwori’s predecessor, made considerable efforts in enhancing access road and associated infrastructure for the Warri Port, but a lot more needs to be done, if Delta state’s global economic aspirations as espoused at the economic summit are to be realised.
What is therefore required is a bold move by the Gov. Oborevwori, utlising his political relationship as a member of the current ruling national party to speedily secure 51 percent ownership and management concession from the FG/NPA for the four maritime ports in the state. This 51 percent of the state can however be operationlised by a consortium led by Port of Rotterdam Authority, which creates a Dutch nexus when factored with the proposed return of Shell, one of the leading IOCs. The Port of Rotterdam Authority manages the Port of Rotterdam in Netherlands, Europe’s largest seaport and for over four decades, the busiest port in the world by annual cargo tonnage. Acting as technical partners for the Delta state, collective management of the four ports in the state provides some economies of scale for the Port of Rotterdam Authority, which will include managing the Escravos Channel, automating the ports, and providing effective and efficient services of international standards for trade and economic facilitation.
In the real estate sector, there is no disputing the positive effect that entrepreneurs with large social media followings such as Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), have had on Delta state’s real estate sector through his Cubana Millenium City. This much was attested to by Tony Elumelu, during the summit. This has complemented the already growing real estate sector in the state, and also provides an affordable leverage for other worthy real estate aspirations in the state. The Delta state government should consider offering Obinna Iyiegbu and Tony Elumelu’s Afriland Properties some stake for development and promotion in the Asaba Waterfront City, and other propositions within the Warri-Uvwie and Environs Development Agency. This will lead to the development of more modern liveable cities and spaces in the state, as quality of living space and green environment is a major factor that investors and high skilled persons consider before making investment decisions.
The Asaba Waterfront City city located on 351 hectares of land along the banks of the River Niger, will consist of a central business district that caters for domestic and international economic activities; riverfront and lakefront residential development. That way, residents of the city can live, work and play. It strategically provides Delta state with the kind of waterfront environment that can compare with what is obtainable in Dubai, Qatar and other places of competition, which further positions Delta state on the global economic map. Nice signature real estate is always a part of it. Tony Elumelu’s Transcorp, which owns Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, can be granted land and long-term incentives as part of the business case for the building of new five star hotels in Asaba and Warri. Jim Ovia, the founder of Zenith Bank has also demonstrated his knack for waterside real estate with Metropolitan Towers in Lagos, and therefore has a role to play in the sector. Such investments and developments not only provide new attractive residential areas for trendy Deltans and international demography, but also opportunities for inflow of non-oil foreign investment.
The Steel sector is another sector that will require the attention of the Delta state government. The investments and economic aspirations in energy, manufacturing, ICT, maritime, aviation, real estate and infrastructure make heavy industry manufacturing such as steel, a natural progression. And Delta has some assets within the state to harness, especially the Delta Steel Plant at Ovwian-Aladja, owned by FG through the Delta Steel Company. The integrated green steel plant was commissioned in 1982 with an installed production capacity of one million tonnes of liquid Steel per annum, but is currently near moribound.
Though the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Steel Development, has signed an agreement with Premium Steel and Mines Limited (PSML) to facilitate the revival and full operationalisation in August 2026, this isn’t the first time such efforts have been made to revitalise the plant. Therefore, the Delta State government should consider acquiring stake in PSML, as well as a part of the federal government’s stake in DSC, to be able to drive the revitalization of the plant in support of the state’s industrialisation and economic programme towards heavy industries. A part of the $100 million VSF can also be deployed in attracting technical partners for the state government in the steel sector.
The Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 has been acknowledged as a demonstration of intent, with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala advocating for an economic worldview that situates Delta State within the global economy. As governor of the state prided as the ‘Big Heart’, Gov. Oborevwori has political entities such as UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman with comparable resource and human resources to serve as some level of economic development model. A strategic development plan towards returning IOCs to onshore and shallow water petroleum assets, utilising the state’s abundant gas and water resources for the development of large AI data centres, enabling optimal development and management of the state’s maritime ports, facilitating international air routes into the state, and supporting the revitalisation of the steel sector in the state for heavy industries, can enable Delta attain similar economic outcomes with comparable Gulf states. While the $100 million Viability Gap Fund is a major demonstration of intent, will history look back at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 as a defining moment for Delta State and Nigeria?
Dr. Uwanaka writes from African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.