Riverine Host Communities Deserve More Development, Mulade Tells Oborevwori

Rita Enemuru, Reporting

WARRI — A Delta State-born development advocate and environmental rights activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has urged Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to deliberately include riverine host communities in the administration’s infrastructural development plans across the state.

The activist, who is the Ibe-Serimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, said the riverine areas, predominantly occupied by the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities, have long been deprived of meaningful development.

According to him, these communities lack mega people-oriented projects that could open up the coastal belt for economic growth.

Comrade Mulade, who is also the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the House of Representatives, Warri Federal Constituency, noted that the Ijaw and Itsekiri people contribute over 70 per cent of Delta State’s revenue through oil, gas and the blue economy. That revenue, he said, has made Delta the richest state in Nigeria.

“Yet these areas that lay the golden egg are totally neglected and abandoned,” he stated.

The peace ambassador appealed to the governor to consider people-oriented mega projects in the Ijaw and Itsekiri host communities to give a sense of belonging to the economic live-wire of the state, particularly as Delta prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

Mulade outlined several infrastructure projects he believes should be embarked upon as part of the anniversary celebrations:

· The Ayakoromo-Burutu-Forcados-Odimodi-Ogulagha road, linking several coastal communities to the Forcados oil storage terminal, which he said would boost economic growth and create jobs.
· The Omadino-Okerenkoko-Kokodiagbene-Escravos road, linking the Escravos Terminal, with the potential to make Delta State Nigeria’s economic hub.
· The Koko-Ogheye-Gbokodo-Opuama road, opening up coastal communities in Warri North LGA.
· A ring road through Camp-5, Seitorububou, Kurutie, Kunukunuma, Ibefan, Azama, Oporoza, Ogidigben, Yokri/Sokebolou, and Obotobo.
· The Ojobo-Ndoro-Aghoro road, linking Delta to Bayelsa on the eastern flank.

Mulade insisted that road connectivity is the panacea for speedy development in Delta’s riverine areas and a crucial step towards achieving the blue economy for the state and nation.

The activist, however, described the governor’s urban infrastructural development as commendable.

He added: “The sources of the resource base – the riverine host communities – are totally neglected.”