The Ijaw community of Gelegele in Edo’s Ovia North-East has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to revisit a long-abandoned road project.

The Udo-Ufunoma-Enikura-Gwilebu road, abandoned for over 11 years, remains crucial to the area’s development, the community said on Sunday in Benin.

Omaghomi Olu-Derimon, chairman of the Gelegele executive council, made this appeal during a breakfast meeting with selected media practitioners.

He said more than 100 communities remain cut off due to the road’s non-completion, worsening their economic and social isolation.

He criticised the NDDC for repeatedly excluding oil-producing communities, including Gelegele, from its intervention projects across the state.

“It is regrettable that those laying the golden egg are sidelined, while non-oil areas enjoy benefits meant for oil communities,” he stated.

Mr Olu-Derimon said that previous agencies like OMPADEC were meant to support development in oil-rich areas but often failed to do so effectively.

“The NDDC, too, has not met its core aim of developing the Niger Delta and the wider South-South region.

“Considering the funds received, the development gap in this region is far too wide and unacceptable,” he said.

However, he acknowledged improvements in the current NDDC administration, describing it as a step forward.

“There appears to be more focus and progress under the current leadership of the NDDC,” he observed.

He urged the agency to ensure development reaches oil-producing communities, not just states or local councils.

“The cause of restiveness in the Niger Delta is the neglect of the communities where oil is actually extracted.

“Our Gelegele community still feels no direct impact from the NDDC, despite our contribution to national wealth,” he said.

He argued that this defeats the very reason the NDDC was created in the first place.

In spite of his concerns, Mr Olu-Derimon commended the current board for efforts to reverse this neglect.

He described the Udo-Ufunoma-Enikura-Gwilebu road as a vital gateway to riverine communities in the area.

“These communities suffer terribly during the rainy season. We urge the NDDC and state government to complete the project,” he appealed. 

(NAN)