Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday, relaunched the Delta State Security Trust Fund with a renewed focus on public-private collaboration to strengthen security and drive economic growth across the state.

The high-profile event, held at Government House, Asaba, brought together captains of industry, security chiefs, and top government officials, including Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who chaired the occasion; Zenith Bank Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, who served as Special Guest of Honour; and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, who emerged Chief Launcher with a whopping ₦10 billion donation.

 

Governor Oborevwori explained that though the Security Trust Fund was originally established by law in 2013, his administration was revamping it as a sustainable framework for resource mobilisation to complement the government’s spending on security.

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He said the renewed Fund would prioritise the acquisition of modern surveillance technology, operational vehicles, and communication equipment while supporting capacity-building for security operatives and community vigilante groups across the state’s 25 local councils.

“Security is not the sole responsibility of government — it is everyone’s business,” Oborevwori declared. “Without security, development cannot thrive, businesses cannot flourish, and investors will hesitate to commit their resources. This Trust Fund represents our shared commitment to peace, public safety, and sustainable growth.”

 

Chairman of the occasion, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, hailed the initiative as a “defining moment in the state’s history,” commending Governor Oborevwori’s leadership, which he said had transformed Delta into one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and investment-friendly states.

“Our governor is both a driver and an enabler of progress. While others talk, he just gets it done,” he remarked.

 

Aig-Imoukhuede announced a personal donation of ₦100 million on behalf of himself and his wife, Ofure, expressing confidence that the fund could attract up to ₦100 billion by 2025.

“This launch does not end today — it begins today,” he said. “Together, we will continue to strengthen the foundation for Delta’s safety and growth.”

 

Zenith Bank founder Jim Ovia praised the governor’s foresight, describing the Security Trust Fund as “a bold, forward-looking initiative” that would foster confidence among investors and citizens alike.

“Security is the foundation of peace, prosperity, and business growth. This Fund unites stakeholders to build a safer and more stable Delta,” Ovia said, pledging continued partnership with the state government.

 

Speaking on behalf of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, Tantita Security’s Chief Keston Pondi lauded the institutionalisation of the Fund as a “strategic investment in peace and progress,” pledging the company’s ₦10 billion contribution as part of a long-term commitment to protecting lives and property.

“What we are launching today goes beyond financial contribution — it is a collective investment in Delta’s stability and future,” Pondi said.

 

Delivering the keynote address, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Marvel Akpoyibo emphasised that security and development were inseparable, warning that no state could achieve sustainable growth without adequate safety measures.

 

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Delta Security Trust Fund, Samuel Osasa, said the renewed initiative would “reinvigorate and reposition” the state’s security architecture to meet emerging threats.

He noted that the Fund had already provided logistics support and equipment to various agencies, including the recent installation of advanced facilities for the State Police Command under the Delta State Criminal Justice Law 2022.