By Emmanuel Ogoigbe
A prominent Ijaw leader and environmental rights advocate, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff (PhD), has appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently reconsider and expand the distribution of projects recently approved under the state government’s over ₦400 billion infrastructure development plan, to ensure fair inclusion of Ijaw communities in the state.
Chief Mulade made the appeal in a press statement yesterday, while reacting to the list of projects recently approved by the Delta State Executive Council across several local government areas.
According to him, while the approved projects cover many parts of the state, the Ijaw riverine/rural areas appear largely left out, despite their enormous contributions to the economic strength of Delta State and Nigeria through blue economy, oil and gas resources.
“The renowned Delta state-born human rights and development advocate, Comrade Mulade said about 90% of the 400 billion would comes from the rural/riverine communities but are shortchanged and deprived from the beautiful developmental projects”
Mulade acknowledged that the state government approved several road constructions, rehabilitations, erosion control works, market infrastructure, housing projects, judicial facilities and educational developments across Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Okpe, Sapele, Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa, Isoko and other areas of the state.
The projects include the 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, Agbor and other communities, as well as institutional projects such as construction of hostels in state universities, judges’ quarters, police divisional headquarters for all 25 local government areas, and the completion of the Senate/Administrative Building at Delta State University, Abraka.
However, the Ijaw leader expressed concern that major riverine communities in Ijaw areas did not receive commensurate people-oriented infrastructure, despite the huge natural resources derived from the region.
He noted that aside from the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road project, which is being jointly pursued by the Delta State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited, the newly approved projects did not sufficiently address the pressing infrastructural needs of the Ijaw axis of the state.
Chief Mulade said:
> “It is imperative to state that Ijaw areas contributes over 50% of the economy of the state and the nation through oil and gas and blue economy resources, yet critical infrastructure remains largely absent in our riverine areas.”
He stressed that the absence of strategic infrastructure such as roads, bridges and social amenities continues to slow down economic growth in Ijaw communities and worsen the hardship faced by residents.
According to him, improved connectivity in the riverine areas would stimulate economic activities, boost commerce, enhance security and strengthen the political and social integration of the region within Delta State.
Mulade therefore urged the state government to consider approving and prioritising key infrastructure projects in Ijaw areas, particularly those that would link several coastal communities and unlock economic potential in the region.
Among the projects he recommended for urgent approval and completion are:
A matching order for the completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge, a strategic infrastructure that would significantly improve access between riverine communities and upland areas.
“I wish to strongly appeal to His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to reconsider and approved the road linking Burutu town, headquarters of Burutu LGA–Ogulagha Community, hosting Forcados Terminal, which is a strategic commercial nerve of the Delta economy, thereby creating a vital transportation and commercial corridor for several coastal communities; Construction and linking of Kurutie community, hosting the popular Nigerian Maritime University, Kurutie Campus –Oporoza–Ogidigben–Yokri Road, which would link up with the existing Yokri–Obotobo Road and significantly improve mobility across Ijaw and Itsekiri communities that would strengthen bonds and peaceful coexistence .
“It is painful to imagine, understand or believe the reasons behind the total marginalisation, deprivation and neglect of the Egbema kingdom Ijaws in Warri North LGA in all ramifications. Your Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Please kindly permit me to strongly and sincerely appeal to your indefatigable office to change the narrative by give sense of belonging through projects inclusivity”
He emphasised that such projects would transform the economic fortunes of the riverine/rural communities by opening up the area to investment, trade, tourism and agricultural development.
Mulade also called on Ijaw political leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders and elected representatives to intensify advocacy, constructive engagement and lobbying to ensure that development reflects the contributions of the ijaw nation in the state.
He said:
> “Ijaw leaders must summon the courage to speak truth to power, lobby and demand for development. Our resource contribution should reflect critical and sustainable infrastructural development in our land. The lack of infrastructural development and social amenities is affecting our economic growth and weaken our collective prospects, which continously deplete our electoral values and political advancements”
The Ijaw leader nevertheless commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing development efforts across the state and expressed hope that the administration would demonstrate fairness and inclusiveness by extending more impactful projects to the riverine communities.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of Ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom, concluded by urging the governor to revisit the project distribution template under the ₦400 billion infrastructure programme and ensure equitable development across all ethnic nationalities and regions of Delta State, particularly the Ijaw areas.
