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Egbema Clan Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Holds Congress in Ofunama, Stages Protest Over Abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road Project

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Egbema Clan Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Holds Congress in Ofunama, Stages Protest Over Abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road Project
…Demands Immediate Remobilization of Contractors, Issues Communiqué
By EgbemaVoice,

The Egbema Clan of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has once again raised its voice against the long-standing infrastructural neglect of Egbema Kingdom. On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the council held a landmark congress at Ofunama Town, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, bringing together youths and community leaders from all nine clans across Edo and Delta States.
The congress, chaired by Clan Chairman, Comrade Engr. Dumofaye Lawoni, served as a vital platform to address pressing developmental concerns—chief among them, the abandonment of the Udo-Ofunama Road project, which was awarded several years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but remains incomplete.
Following deliberations, the council staged a peaceful protest along the dilapidated stretch of the Udo-Ofunama Road to draw public and governmental attention to the dire state of the only access road connecting Egbema communities to urban centers.
In his address to the press, Comrade Lawoni expressed deep concern over the continued neglect by the NDDC, despite the economic significance of Egbema Kingdom and numerous petitions sent to the commission’s headquarters and Edo State office.

> “This road is not just a path—it is the lifeline of Egbema Kingdom. It links our communities to the outside world and supports vital economic activities such as farming, fishing, trade, and access to healthcare. The abandonment of this road, in spite of our repeated appeals, is both heartbreaking and unjust to the people of this oil-rich region,” Lawoni said.
Egbema Kingdom, straddling Edo and Delta States, is one of the Niger Delta's major oil-producing regions. It plays host to the operations of several multinational oil companies, including Chevron, NPDC, Conoil, Elcrest, and Sahara Energy. Yet, despite its contributions to Nigeria's economy, the kingdom continues to face years of underdevelopment and marginalization.
Also speaking at the protest, Comrade Sode Telemowei, the incoming President of the Egbema Youth Council, echoed the frustrations of the people, demanding immediate government intervention.
> “We are tired of the lies. The NDDC awarded this project and mobilized contractors, only for them to abandon the site without any explanation. Our people are suffering. Pregnant women and the sick can't access proper healthcare, our traders and fishermen struggle with transportation, and our students find it hard to reach their schools. We demand immediate remobilization of the contractors. We cannot be ignored any longer,” Telemowei asserted.

He further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and other key stakeholders to take urgent action to address the suffering of Egbema people and ensure the NDDC delivers on its mandate of developing the Niger Delta region.
The peaceful protest concluded with chants of solidarity and a powerful message to both the NDDC and the Nigerian government: the Egbema people demand justice, development, and recognition.

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