14 YEARS AFTER: MINGO KNOCKS NDDC OVER ABANDONED UDO–OFUNAMA ROAD,
EGBEMA IS PRODUCING OIL, BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED” — NIGER DELTA YOUTH LEADER DEMANDS URGENT FEDERAL ACTION
By EgbemaVoice News
The Niger Delta is producing billions of naira in oil and gas, yet communities sitting on these resources remain trapped without functional roads. Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, has condemned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Federal Government over the alleged 14-year abandonment of the Udo–Ofunama–Ajakurama Road, describing the situation as a development crisis that can no longer be ignored.
The critical road corridor, which cuts across communities in Egbema Kingdom, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, and Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has reportedly remained incomplete despite its strategic importance to the people and economy of the region.
Mingo said the abandonment of Phase One and Phase Two of the project has left communities across Egbema, Olodiama and Okomu Kingdoms struggling with terrible access, crippling transportation, weakening economic activities and exposing residents to serious humanitarian challenges.
According to the Niger Delta youth leader, the poor road network has become particularly dangerous for pregnant women, emergency patients, children and other vulnerable residents who must travel through difficult terrain to access healthcare.
He lamented that several communities in the area lack adequately accessible hospitals and health centres, making the condition of the roads a matter of life and death rather than merely an infrastructure concern.
Our people are suffering. Pregnant women are endangered, emergency patients struggle to reach medical facilities, and economic activities are being destroyed because of the absence of an accessible road. How long must our people continue to suffer?”
Mingo questioned why communities that contribute significantly to Nigeria's oil and gas economy should continue to live without basic infrastructure.
He noted that Egbema Kingdom hosts major oil and gas activities and assets, involving operators and companies such as Chevron, SPDC, NPDC, Elcrest, Sahara Energy, OML 40 and OML 41, among others.
He argued that the presence of enormous natural resources in the area should translate into tangible development, including motorable roads, healthcare facilities, electricity, schools, water and economic infrastructure.
Mingo therefore called on the NDDC and Federal Government to urgently revisit the abandoned project, establish its current status, mobilise contractors back to site and provide a definite completion timeline for both phases.
He stressed that the Udo–Ofunama–Ajakurama Road is not simply a local access road but a strategic corridor capable of opening up several riverine communities, improving economic activities and connecting people to essential services.
He further called on elected representatives, traditional institutions, youth organisations and development stakeholders across the Niger Delta to unite in demanding the completion of the project.
The Niger Delta youth leader warned that continued neglect of critical infrastructure across the region would deepen frustration among host communities and intensify demands for accountability from government agencies responsible for development.
“Egbema has given enough to Nigeria. The people deserve development. We cannot continue to extract oil from our land while our people remain trapped because of a road abandoned for more than 14 years. The NDDC and Federal Government must act now.
Mingo maintained that the people of Egbema, Olodiama and Okomu are not asking for special treatment, but for equitable development, responsible governance and completion of projects that have already been initiated.
He concluded with a direct message to the relevant authorities:
The people have waited long enough. The Udo–Ofunama–Ajakurama Road must be completed.
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