OPEN PETITION TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, SENATE PRESIDENT GODSWILL AKPABIO, AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. TAJUDEEN ABBAS,

OPEN PETITION TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, SENATE PRESIDENT GODSWILL AKPABIO, AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. TAJUDEEN ABBAS

Over the 13-Year Abandonment of the Strategic Udo–Ofunama Road Project in Edo and Delta States,

By Concerned Citizens of Egbema, Olodiama, and Okomu Kingdoms,

We, the undersigned leaders, youths, and stakeholders of Egbema, Olodiama, and Okomu Kingdoms—three major oil-producing kingdoms straddling Edo and Delta States—hereby express our deep disappointment and sense of betrayal over the 13-year abandonment of the Udo–Ofunama Road Project, awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2012.

The Udo–Ofunama Road was designed to serve as a central hub network, linking key oil-rich communities: Udo, Inikorogha, Jamagie 1 & 2, Ofunama, Gbeuba, Gbolukanga, Abere, Ajakurama (Phase 1), Ogbinbiri, Ogbudugbudu, Opuama, and Polobuboh (Phase 2). Its completion would unlock economic growth, ease transportation, and bring long-overdue development to the Niger Delta region.

Yet, more than a decade later, not a single meaningful step has been taken to execute the project, despite its strategic importance and the enormous oil and gas wealth extracted from these lands.

Our Demands

1. Immediate Federal Action: Direct the NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to mobilize contractors and commence full-scale work on the Udo–Ofunama Road.

2. Legislative Oversight: The Senate and House of Representatives should launch a public investigation into why this critical project has remained abandoned since 2012.

3. Transparency and Accountability: Make public all funds released for this project and hold all responsible parties accountable for any mismanagement.

4. Priority in National Agenda: Include the Udo–Ofunama Road in the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Plan to ensure prompt completion.

Why This Petition Matters: Our kingdoms host major oil and gas companies, including Chevron, NPDC, SPDC, ELCREST, CONOIL, OML 40 operators, and Sarah Energy, yet basic infrastructure is denied to us.

Our people have sacrificed for Nigeria’s development, including contributing to the establishment of the NDDC itself—only to be repaid with neglect.

Abandoned projects fuel distrust and instability, undermining peace-building and youth engagement efforts in the Niger Delta.

Our Commitment to Peaceful Protest: We reaffirm our resolve to protest peacefully and lawfully. Our struggle is not against Nigeria but against injustice, underdevelopment, and broken promises. However, our patience must not be mistaken for weakness.

We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Tajudeen Abbas to act now and restore hope to Egbema, Olodiama, and Okomu Kingdoms.

Signed:

Comrade Tamara Denyefa Idaji, Central Coordinator, Coalition of Ten Pressure Groups

Community Leaders and Stakeholders of Egbema, Olodiama, and Okomu Kingdoms Representative Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka,