Ijaw leader urges Oborevwori to include riverine communities in N400b projects
A prominent Ijaw leader and an environmental rights advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has appealed to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to reconsider the distribution of projects under the state government’s
A prominent Ijaw leader and an environmental rights advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has appealed to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to reconsider the distribution of projects under the state government’s over N400 billion infrastructure development programme to ensure greater inclusion of Ijaw communities.
He made the appeal while reacting to projects recently approved by Delta State Executive Council across several local governments.
He said although the projects covered many parts of the state, the riverine and rural Ijaw communities appeared to have received little attention despite their contributions to the state and national economy through oil and gas resources and the blue economy.
He noted that the state government approved several projects, including road construction, rehabilitation works, erosion control, market infrastructure, housing developments and institutional projects across Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Okpe, Sapele, Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa and Isoko areas.
Some of the projects include reconstruction of Warri Internal Ring Road Phase 2, rehabilitation of parts of the Trans-Warri Ode-Itsekiri Road, construction of roads in Ekpan, Udu, Ughelli, Oghara, Abraka, Asaba, Sapele, Kwale and Agbor, as well as construction of hostels in state universities, judges’ quarters and police divisional headquarters for all 25 local government areas.
However, Mulade expressed concern that major riverine communities in Ijaw areas were not adequately captured in the project list.
He said Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road project being executed through collaboration between Delta State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission and Chevron Nigeria Limited was a step in the right direction, but added that more people-oriented projects were needed in the riverine areas.
Mulade said improved infrastructure such as roads, bridges and social amenities would enhance connectivity, stimulate economic activities and improve the living conditions of residents in the riverine communities.
He, therefore, urged the state government to consider approving and prioritising strategic projects in the Ijaw areas, including completion of Ayakoromo Bridge and building of Burutu–Ogulagha road linking Burutu town to Ogulagha community, which hosts Forcados Terminal.
He recommended the construction of Kurutie–Oporoza–Ogidigben–Yokri road, which would link communities around Nigerian Maritime University and improve movement across Ijaw and Itsekiri areas.
The Ijaw leader called on political leaders, traditional rulers and stakeholders in Ijaw communities to intensify advocacy and constructive engagement, to ensure development reflects the contributions of the region.
Mulade commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing development efforts across the state and expressed hope that the administration would review the project distribution under the N400 billion programme to ensure equitable development across all parts of Delta State, particularly the riverine communities.
