A prominent Ijaw leader and environmental rights advocate, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, has appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to review and broaden the distribution of projects under the state government’s over ₦400 billion infrastructure development programme to ensure equitable inclusion of Ijaw communities.
Chief Mulade made the appeal in a press statement issued over the weekend while reacting to the list of projects recently approved by the Delta State Executive Council for execution across various local government areas of the state.
According to him, although the projects span several parts of Delta State, the riverine and rural Ijaw communities appear to have received minimal attention despite their enormous contributions to the state’s economy, particularly through oil and gas resources and the blue economy.
Mulade stated that a significant portion of the state’s economic revenue is derived from the riverine communities, yet the areas remain largely deprived of critical infrastructure and development projects.
While acknowledging the state government’s approval of multiple infrastructure projects, including road construction and rehabilitation, erosion control works, market infrastructure, housing projects, judicial facilities, and educational developments across Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Okpe, Sapele, Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa and Isoko, he expressed concern that many Ijaw communities were not adequately captured in the project distribution.
Among the projects approved by the government are the reconstruction of Warri Internal Ring Road Phase II, 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 such as 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, Abraka.
However, the Ijaw leader noted that apart from the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road project being jointly pursued by the Delta State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission and Chevron Nigeria Limited, the newly approved projects do not sufficiently address the pressing infrastructural needs of the Ijaw riverine axis.
He said the situation has left many coastal communities without adequate roads, bridges and social amenities, thereby limiting economic opportunities and worsening the hardship faced by residents.
“It is imperative to state that Ijaw areas contribute significantly to the economy of both the state and the nation through oil and gas resources and the blue economy, yet critical infrastructure remains largely absent in our riverine communities,” he said.
Mulade stressed that improved connectivity in the riverine areas would stimulate economic activities, boost commerce, strengthen security and promote greater social and political integration within Delta State.
He therefore urged the state government to prioritise key infrastructure projects that would connect several coastal communities and unlock the economic potential of the region.
Among the projects he recommended for urgent approval are the completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge, which he described as a strategic project capable of improving access between riverine communities and upland areas.
He also appealed to the governor to approve the road linking Burutu town, the headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area, to Ogulagha Community, host community to the Forcados Terminal, describing it as a vital commercial corridor for the Delta economy.
Mulade further advocated the construction of the Kurutie–Oporoza–Ogidigben–Yokri Road to link with the existing Yokri–Obotobo Road, noting that the project would improve mobility between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities while strengthening peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation.
The Ijaw leader also raised concerns over what he described as the continued marginalisation of Egbema Ijaw communities in Warri North Local Government Area, urging the state government to address the situation by ensuring greater inclusiveness in project distribution.
He emphasised that the proposed projects would significantly transform the socio-economic fortunes of the riverine communities by opening them up to investment, trade, tourism and agricultural development.
Mulade also called on Ijaw political leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intensify advocacy and constructive engagement with government authorities to ensure that development reflects the contributions of the Ijaw people to the state.
“Ijaw leaders must continue to engage constructively and advocate for development. Our resource contributions should translate into sustainable infrastructural growth in our communities,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Mulade commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing development efforts across the state and expressed optimism that the administration would demonstrate fairness and inclusiveness by extending more impactful projects to the riverine communities.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom concluded by urging the governor to review the project allocation framework under the ₦400 billion infrastructure programme to ensure equitable development across all ethnic groups and regions of Delta State, particularly the Ijaw areas.
