Ijaw Leader Urges Oborevwori To Review ₦400bn Project Plan, Seek Greater Development For Riverine Communities
A prominent Ijaw leader and environmental rights advocate, Mulade Sheriff, has called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to reconsider the distribution of projects under the state government’s recently approved infrastructure programme valued at over ₦400 billion.
Mulade made the appeal in a press statement during the weekend while reacting to the list of development projects approved by the Delta State Executive Council across various local government areas.
According to him, although the infrastructure plan covers several parts of the state, many riverine communities predominantly inhabited by the Ijaw people appear to have received little attention despite their major contribution to the state’s economy.
Mulade noted that the approved projects include a wide range of infrastructure such as road construction and rehabilitation, erosion control works, market facilities, housing projects, judicial infrastructure, and educational developments across communities in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Okpe, Sapele, Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa, and Isoko areas.
Some of the projects listed by the state government include the reconstruction of the Warri Internal Ring Road Phase 2, rehabilitation of parts of the Trans-Warri Ode-Itsekiri Road, and construction of roads in communities such as Ekpan, Udu, Ughelli, Oghara, Abraka, Asaba, Sapele, Kwale and Agbor.
The plan also includes institutional projects such as hostels for state universities, judges’ quarters, police divisional headquarters across the 25 local government areas, and the completion of the Senate and Administrative Building at Delta State University.
However, the Ijaw leader expressed concern that most riverine communities did not receive projects that directly address their pressing infrastructural needs.
He pointed out that aside from the Omadino, Okerenkoko, Escravos Road project being jointly handled by the Delta State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission and Chevron Nigeria Limited, there appears to be limited focus on critical infrastructure in the Ijaw axis.
Mulade argued that Ijaw communities contribute significantly to the economic strength of both Delta State and Nigeria through oil and gas resources as well as activities within the blue economy.
He said improved infrastructure such as roads, bridges and social amenities would stimulate economic growth, boost commerce and improve security in the riverine areas.
Among the projects he recommended for urgent attention is the completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge, which he described as a strategic project capable of improving connectivity between riverine communities and upland areas.
He also urged the state government to consider approving a road linking Burutu town, the headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area, to Ogulagha Community, which hosts the Forcados Terminal and serves as a major commercial hub within the Delta economy.
In addition, Mulade recommended the construction of a road linking Kurutie community host to the Nigerian Maritime University to Oporoza, Ogidigben and Yokri, which would connect to the existing Yokri, Obotobo Road and enhance mobility between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities.
The activist further called on Ijaw political leaders, traditional rulers and stakeholders to intensify advocacy and constructive engagement to ensure that development projects reflect the contributions of the Ijaw people to the state’s economy.
He emphasised that improved infrastructure would open the riverine areas to investment, trade, tourism and agricultural development.
Mulade, however, commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing development initiatives across the state and expressed optimism that the administration would review the project distribution to ensure fairness and inclusion.
He urged the governor to reassess the allocation of projects under the ₦400 billion infrastructure programme and ensure that all ethnic nationalities and regions of Delta State, particularly the riverine Ijaw communities, benefit equitably.
