Warri North oil-producing communities demand inclusion in ₦400bn Delta projects

From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri

The leadership and people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) and its bloc communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have protested the exclusion of their communities from the recently approved infrastructure projects valued at over ₦400 billion by the Delta State Government.

In a protest statement signed by the President of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) bloc communities, Paul Toruwei, and the Aboh Youth leader, Comr. Markson Juwoiye, on Monday, the people expressed deep concern and disappointment that the state government had overlooked their area despite it being a major oil-producing area in the state.

While commending the government for its efforts to improve infrastructure across various parts of the state, the people noted that the complete omission of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) from the list of projects raises serious concerns about fairness, equity and balanced development.

Polobubo (Tsekelewu) and its bloc communities serve as host communities to major oil companies, including Chevron, NPDC, Sahara Energy and Conoil.

The statement said that operations of the oil firms in the area contribute significantly to the petroleum output of Delta State, with the area accounting for over 20 percent of the state’s petroleum production.

“For decades, our land and resources have played a critical role in sustaining the economic prosperity of Delta State. Yet, despite this enormous contribution, our communities continue to suffer from serious infrastructural deficits, poor accessibility, and minimal government presence.

“It is therefore troubling that such a strategic oil-producing axis—often described by our people as the goose that lays the golden egg—was not considered in the recently announced infrastructure approvals.”

While saying they have remained peaceful, law-abiding and committed to the progress and stability of the state, they asserted that justice, fairness and inclusive development ought to guide government policies and actions.

They therefore called on the state government to review the projects to include the Trans-Egbema Road from Ogbudugbudu/Ogbinbiri to Polobubo as well as the Polobubo internal road network, which was earlier approved during the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The people urged the state government to ensure equitable distribution of development projects, particularly to oil-producing host communities that contribute significantly to the state’s revenue.

“It becomes increasingly difficult for our people to understand why communities that contribute so much to the economic strength of Delta State continue to experience neglect in terms of development.
We urge the Delta State Government to urgently address this oversight in the interest of equity, sustainable development, and continued cooperation between host communities and government,” the statement added.