EGBEMA KINGDOM IN DARKNESS DESPITE DECADES OF OIL WEALTH — MINGO RAISES ALARM OVER PERSISTENT NEGLECT

EGBEMA KINGDOM IN DARKNESS DESPITE DECADES OF OIL WEALTH — MINGO RAISES ALARM OVER PERSISTENT NEGLECT

By EgbemaVoice 

Niger Delta Youth Leader, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, popularly known as KingdomVoice, has raised a fresh alarm over what he describes as the prolonged infrastructural neglect and developmental marginalisation of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Mingo expressed deep concern that communities within Egbema Kingdom continue to grapple with inadequate electricity, poor road and bridge infrastructure, limited healthcare and educational facilities, flooding and other basic developmental challenges despite the enormous natural resources extracted from the Niger Delta region.

According to him, Egbema Kingdom has remained in darkness for decades, with several communities still without reliable access to electricity from the national grid. He particularly cited communities in the Asigborodor and Awanba axis, which, he said, continue to face severe infrastructural and socioeconomic challenges.

Our resources are being taken away, yet our communities continue to suffer. How can communities that contribute to the economic wealth of the nation and Delta State remain without basic infrastructure for decades?

Mingo questioned what he described as the absence of sufficient government attention to Egbema Kingdom under successive administrations in Delta State.

He said the situation had become particularly worrisome under the current administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, arguing that while the state government has embarked on major infrastructure projects in different parts of Delta State, Egbema communities are still waiting for transformative interventions in electricity, healthcare, education, roads, bridges and flood management.

The governor's administration has publicly identified electricity, roads, bridges, water supply and other infrastructure as components of its development agenda. Its 2026 budget address also listed the Ogbudugbudu Community Road in Egbema Kingdom, Phase II, Warri North LGA, among infrastructure projects.

However, Mingo maintained that isolated interventions cannot substitute for a comprehensive development programme for the wider Egbema Kingdom.

The Niger Delta youth leader said Egbema stakeholders have repeatedly written letters, issued public appeals and raised concerns about the conditions of the communities, yet many of the fundamental challenges remain unresolved.

“We are tired of writing open letters and making publications. We are not asking for favours. We are asking for development. We are asking for the same basic infrastructure that other communities across Delta State deserve,” he stated.

Mingo called on Governor Oborevwori to personally visit Egbema Kingdom and engage directly with traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths and other stakeholders to understand the realities confronting the people.

He specifically appealed for urgent intervention in:

- Electricity supply and rural electrification, including sustainable solar or mini-grid solutions where appropriate;

- Construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and jetties linking riverine communities;

- Flood-control and drainage infrastructure;

- Functional primary and secondary healthcare facilities;

- Improved schools and educational infrastructure;

- Solar street lighting for communities;

- Potable water supply;

- Youth empowerment and employment programmes;

- Tertiary educational opportunities, including consideration of a university, college of education or other higher institution serving the riverine communities; and

- A comprehensive development plan specifically targeting underserved Egbema communities.

“RIVERINE COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS AFTERTHOUGHTS”

Mingo argued that the geographical challenges of Egbema should not become a justification for exclusion from development. He noted that riverine communities require specialised infrastructure bridges, jetties, boats, navigable waterways, renewable energy systems and flood-resilient public facilities—to connect them effectively with the rest of the state.

The governor's published policy platform itself recognises the importance of roads, bridges, jetties, electricity and water infrastructure, as well as support for water transportation in riverine areas.

Mingo therefore challenged the Delta State Government to translate those policy commitments into visible projects within Egbema.

According to Mingo, the continued extraction of oil and other natural resources from the Niger Delta should translate into meaningful development for the communities where those resources are located.

Our resources should not become our punishment. We cannot continue to watch our oil and other natural resources leave our communities while our people remain in darkness, our children study under difficult conditions, our health facilities remain inadequate and our communities battle flooding and poor transportation.

He said the people of Egbema are not opposed to government or development anywhere in Delta State, but insist that development must be inclusive, equitable and geographically balanced.

Mingo further appealed to the Delta State Government, the Federal Government, relevant electricity authorities, the Niger Delta Development Commission and other intervention agencies to collaborate on a long-term development programme for Egbema.

The youth leader urged Governor Oborevwori to make Egbema a priority in the state's development planning and to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment of communities across the kingdom. He stressed that the people should not have to repeatedly protest, write letters or attract media attention before receiving basic government attention.

Egbema is part of Delta State. Our people are citizens of this state. We deserve roads, electricity, schools, hospitals, water, bridges and opportunities. We deserve to be seen, heard and included in the development of Delta State,” Mingo declared.

He called on the Governor to visit Egbema Kingdom, meet directly with the people and announce concrete, time-bound interventions capable of addressing the kingdom's longstanding infrastructure deficit.

For Mingo, the message is simple: Egbema does not want promises without implementation; the kingdom wants visible development, inclusion and a future worthy of its people.