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Ijaw leader calls for inclusion of riverine communities in Delta’s ₦400bn development projects.
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Appeal directed to Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged marginalisation of Ijaw areas.
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Activist says riverine communities contribute significantly to the economy of Delta State.
A prominent Ijaw leader and environmental rights advocate, Mulade Sheriff, has appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to reconsider and expand the distribution of projects recently approved under the state government’s over ₦400 billion infrastructure development plan.
Mulade made the appeal in a statement over the weekend while reacting to the list of projects approved by the Delta State Executive Council across several local government areas.
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According to him, although the projects cover many parts of the state, the Ijaw riverine and rural communities appear largely excluded despite their significant contributions to the state and national economy through oil, gas and blue economy resources.
He argued that about 90 per cent of the revenue expected to support the development programme originates from the riverine communities, yet those areas remain underserved in terms of critical infrastructure.
The approved projects include road construction and rehabilitation, erosion control works, market infrastructure, housing schemes, judicial facilities and educational developments across communities in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Okpe, Sapele, Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa and Isoko areas.
Among them are the reconstruction of the Warri Internal Ring Road Phase 2, rehabilitation of sections of the Trans-Warri Ode-Itsekiri Road, construction of roads in Ekpan, Udu, Ughelli, Oghara, Abraka, Asaba, Sapele, Kwale and Agbor, as well as institutional projects including hostels in 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, Mulade expressed concern that major riverine communities in Ijaw areas did not receive commensurate people-oriented infrastructure under the current approvals.
He noted that aside from the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos road project — being jointly executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Delta State Government — the newly approved projects did not sufficiently address the infrastructure needs of the Ijaw axis of the state.
Mulade stressed that the lack of roads, bridges and social amenities in riverine areas continues to slow economic growth and worsen hardship for residents.
He therefore urged the state government to prioritise strategic infrastructure projects that would improve connectivity between coastal communities and the upland areas.
READ ALSO: DELTA: Mulade Laments Lack of Impactful Projects in Ijaw Areas
Among the projects he recommended for urgent attention are the completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge and the construction of a road linking Burutu town in Burutu Local Government Area to Ogulagha community, which hosts the Forcados Terminal.
He also proposed the development of the Kurutie–Oporoza–Ogidigben–Yokri road to connect several communities and improve mobility across Ijaw and Itsekiri settlements.
Mulade further expressed concern over what he described as the marginalisation of Ijaw communities in Warri North Local Government Area, particularly in the Egbema Kingdom.
While calling on Ijaw leaders, traditional rulers and political stakeholders to intensify advocacy for development, he commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing infrastructure projects across the state and expressed hope that the administration would ensure fairness and inclusiveness in the distribution of development initiatives.