Delta Oil Communities Protest Exclusion from ₦400bn Projects, Demand Fair Share
Tension is rising in the oil-host Polobubo community, Warri North LGA, Delta State, over its omission from the recently approved physical projects worth more than ₦400 billion by the Shriff Oborevwori’s led administration in the state.
Residents say the development has deepened long-standing grievances about neglect, despite the community’s central role in the state’s oil production.
Polobubo and nearby Opuama host key oil operators such as Chevron Corporation, NPDC, Sahara Energy and Conoil.
The leadership claims the area contributes a substantial share, estimated at over 20 per cent, of the state’s oil output.
In a joint statement issued to the pressmen by the President of Polobubo Bloc Communities, Hon. Paul Toruwei and former general secretary of Polobubo host welfare, Comrade Markson Aboh, the communities expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as their exclusion from a major round of state-backed development.
They noted that while the government’s infrastructure push is commendable, leaving out a key oil-producing region raises “critical questions about equity and inclusive governance.”
“Our communities have played a vital role in sustaining the state’s economy for years, yet we continue to face poor infrastructure and limited government presence,” the statement said.
The leaders identified several priority projects they believe should have been included in the approvals. Chief among them is the Trans-Egbema Road, which is expected to link Ogbudugbudu/Ogbinbiri with Polobubo and Opuama, a route seen as crucial for improving access to the largely riverine communities.
They also drew attention to the Polobubo Internal Road Network, approved during the tenure of former governor Ifeanyi Okowa but yet to be executed, as well as a similar internal road project in Opuama.
According to the community leaders, the absence of these projects in the latest plan risks widening the development gap between oil-bearing communities and other parts of the state.
Many residents pointed that a region often regarded locally as “the goose that lays the golden egg” should not be overlooked when critical infrastructure decisions are made.
“We are simply asking for fairness and recognition of our contributions,” the statement added, urging the state government to revisit the project list and include Polobubo and surrounding communities.
They also called for the immediate implementation of previously approved projects, particularly road infrastructure seen as vital to economic and social development in the area.
While expressing dissatisfaction, the leaders emphasized that the communities remain peaceful, urging the government to ensure that justice, equity and balanced development guide its policies, especially in oil-producing regions that underpin the state’s revenue.
