WARRI/Nigeria: A prominent Ijaw leader and environmental rights advocate, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has appealed to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently review and expand the distribution of projects approved under the state government’s over ₦400 billion infrastructure development programme to ensure equitable inclusion of Ijaw riverine communities.
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 across several local government areas of the state.
While acknowledging the scale and significance of the projects approved for different parts of Delta State, the Niger Delta activist expressed concern that many Ijaw riverine communities appeared largely excluded from the development template despite their enormous contribution to the economic strength of both the state and the nation through oil, gas and blue economy resources.
According to him, the bulk of the resources driving the state’s economy are derived from rural and riverine areas, yet such communities continue to suffer neglect in the allocation of major infrastructure projects.
“The painful reality is that about 90 per cent of the resources that sustain the economy of the state come from rural and riverine communities, yet these same communities are often shortchanged and deprived of meaningful developmental projects,” Mulade said.
He, however, commended the state government for approving several major projects including road construction, rehabilitation works, erosion control initiatives, market infrastructure, housing developments, judicial facilities and educational projects across parts of the state.
The projects approved by the State Executive Council include the reconstruction of Warri Internal Ring Road Phase II, rehabilitation of sections of the Trans-Warri Ode-Itsekiri Road, and the construction of roads in Ekpan, Udu, Ughelli, Oghara, Abraka, Asaba, Sapele, Kwale, Agbor and other communities.
Other projects include the construction of hostels in state universities, judges’ quarters, police divisional headquarters across the 25 local government areas of the state, as well as the completion of the Senate/Administrative Building at Delta State University, Abraka.
Mulade, however, lamented that the approved projects did not sufficiently address the pressing infrastructural needs of the Ijaw axis, noting that the only major project currently linked to the riverine areas is the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road, which is being jointly undertaken by the Delta State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
“It is imperative to state that Ijaw areas contribute over 50 per cent of the economy of the state and the nation through oil, gas and blue economy resources, yet critical infrastructure remains largely absent in our riverine areas,” he said.
The Ijaw leader noted that the persistent lack of strategic infrastructure such as roads, bridges and social amenities has continued to slow economic growth in riverine communities while worsening the hardship faced by residents.
He stressed that improved connectivity across the riverine terrain would significantly stimulate commerce, enhance security, boost local economic activities and strengthen political and social integration within Delta State.
Mulade therefore urged the state government to prioritise key infrastructure that would open up the coastal communities and unlock their economic potential.
Among the projects he recommended for urgent approval is the completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge, which he described as a strategic infrastructure capable of improving access between riverine communities and upland areas.
He also appealed to the governor to approve the construction of the road linking Burutu, the headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area, to Ogulagha Community which hosts the Forcados Terminal, noting that the project would create a critical transportation and commercial corridor for several coastal settlements.
Mulade further advocated the construction of the Kurutie–Oporoza–Ogidigben–Yokri Road, which would connect with the existing Yokri–Obotobo Road and enhance mobility between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities while strengthening peaceful coexistence in the area.
The activist also expressed concern over what he described as the marginalisation of Egbema Kingdom Ijaws in Warri North Local Government Area, urging the governor to address the situation through inclusive development.
“It is painful to imagine or understand the reasons behind the total marginalisation and neglect of the Egbema Kingdom Ijaws in Warri North Local Government Area. Your Excellency, I sincerely appeal that your administration changes this narrative by giving the people a sense of belonging through inclusive projects,” he said.
Mulade added that the proposed projects would transform the economic fortunes of the riverine communities by opening the areas to investment, trade, tourism and agricultural development.
He also called on Ijaw political leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders and elected representatives to intensify advocacy and constructive engagement with government in order to ensure that development reflects the enormous contributions of the Ijaw nation to the state.
“Ijaw leaders must summon the courage to speak truth to power, lobby and demand development. Our resource contributions should reflect critical and sustainable infrastructural development in our land,” he said.
The Ijaw leader, however, commended Governor Oborevwori for ongoing development efforts across the state and expressed confidence that the administration would demonstrate fairness and inclusiveness by extending more impactful projects to the riverine communities.
Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom, urged the governor to revisit the project distribution framework under the ₦400 billion infrastructure programme to ensure equitable development across all ethnic nationalities and regions of Delta State, particularly the Ijaw areas.
