For far too long, the people of Ndokwa Nation have endured the indignity of living in darkness despite being a major contributor to Nigeria’s energy wealth. Ndokwa communities host vast gas reserves that fuel the turbines powering Aso Rock Presidential Villa and major cities across the country, yet they themselves remain trapped in perpetual blackout. This painful irony has persisted for over two decades, with nothing but empty promises about a stepdown from the Okpai Power Plant to Kwale to supply the rest of Ndokwa — promises that have produced nothing tangible to date.
The planned June 16, 2025, peaceful protest by Ndokwa youths and stakeholders is, therefore, not only justified but long overdue. The people are tired of promises without action. How can a region so rich in natural gas, a resource critical to powering the national grid, continue to suffer this gross neglect? The time has come for the government and elected representatives to see this as a call for justice, not an invitation to tension.
Recent assurances by public officials, including Ukwuani LGA Chairman Barr. Possible Ajede, that light will soon return to Ndokwa Nation and that over 80% of materials have been delivered for reconnection, are welcome. But these words echo similar promises of the past that never materialized. The people’s skepticism is not misplaced. For over 20 years, Ndokwa has been treated to the same refrain: “Light returns soon.” Meanwhile, darkness continues to cripple local economies and impoverish families.
While Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Tilije, has urged caution, suggesting that protests could derail progress and attract unwanted elements, one must ask: what progress? What timeline? What visible, irreversible work is currently ongoing to deliver power to the people? The Bill of Quantity he referenced may be detailed and convincing on paper, but what Ndokwa people want is light in their homes, not paperwork.
It is deeply disappointing that some leaders are now trying to discourage the people from peacefully demanding their legitimate rights. In other parts of Delta State, such as during the Okuama crisis, leaders quietly supported protests to draw attention to the injustices faced by their people, even as they rightly condemned the tragic killing of 17 officers and men of the Nigerian Army. Ndokwa leaders should learn from this example—support and guide peaceful advocacy while actively engaging with the government to seek lasting solutions. This is not the moment to speak down to the very people who entrusted them with their mandate.
Indeed, no one is asking for charity. The demand is simple and fair: oil and gas companies operating in the region should as part of their corporate social responsibility convert flared gas into electricity for host and impacted communities. The current situation, where gas is flared into the atmosphere, destroying livelihoods and endangering lives, is unacceptable in any civilised society. The continued environmental degradation and health risks are a form of violence against Ndokwa people.
Moreover, the Ndokwa Nation is not only asking for reconnection to the national grid; they are demanding a sustainable, community-driven solution to their energy needs. Gas-rich areas like Ndokwa deserve to benefit directly from the resources beneath their soil. Local power generation from gas turbines should not just be a future plan—it should be the urgent focus of both government and investors now.
Lighting up Ndokwa is not just about illuminating homes; it is about igniting a revolution of economic emancipation. Constant and reliable power supply will provide the needed backbone for small and medium-scale enterprises to grow, reduce rural-urban migration, lower unemployment, and ultimately minimize insecurity. It is the key to unlocking the vast economic potential of the region and ensuring a better future for generations to come.
The protest should therefore go beyond demanding the long-awaited stepdown from Okpai Power Plant to Kwale. It must also compel oil and gas companies operating in places like Ebedei, Umutu, Beneku, Kwale, Emu, and other host communities to adopt sustainable practices that protect the environment and contribute directly to local power generation. These companies can no longer be allowed to profit while the communities they operate in are left in squalor.
Furthermore, this protest should be a clarion call to Ndokwa’s business community and political class to see the opportunity before them. The recently signed Delta State Electricity Distribution Law by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori provides a legal framework for private investment in power generation and distribution. This is the time for Ndokwa entrepreneurs and leaders to partner with oil and gas operators to build lasting energy solutions that will transform the region.
We urge the government at all levels, corporate stakeholders, and Ndokwa’s representatives to listen, act, and deliver. The patience of the people has reached its limit. Let this protest be the last that Ndokwa has to stage for such a basic right as electricity. The darkness must end—not tomorrow, but today.
