Group of protesers over lack of infrastructure in Udu at Cross and Stop by Ekete on Tuesday
By Samuel Ogude & Tataunu Akporobo
Hundreds of residents from various communities in Udu Local Government Area, along with several civil society groups, staged a peaceful protest on July 22, 2025, to express their deep dissatisfaction with what they described as long-standing government’s neglect and marginalization by the Delta State Government.
The protesters who were chanting slogans and bearing placards with different inscriptions marched through key areas of Udu Local Government Area demanding fair treatment and equitable distribution of state’s development efforts.
The group acknowledged the efforts of Governor Oborevwori for executing projects in other parts of the state. However, they said, many of such meaningful and landmark projects are not present in Udu, two years into the current administration of Governor Oborevwori.
Speaking on behalf of community leaders, the President of Owhrode Community Comr. Jonathan Ogheneovo stated that despite the fact Owhrode being a major oil and gas producing community, it has been utterly neglected. According to him, the roads leading to the community is in a poor state just as he said, there is an absence of critical infrastructure in the area. He said, they have to embark on the protest because despite their silence, government has failed to do meaningful projects in the area.
On his part, one of the conveners of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Mr. Famous Akpojotor, said Udu has been completely sidelined in the implementation of the state’s MORE Agenda. According to him, lack of state government’s presence in the area is visible saying, Udu has no tertiary institution, vocational school. He stressed the deplorable condition of Udu-ECN Road saying, no efforts have been made to rehabilitate the road. Pleaded with the Governor for a second Udu bridge.
Also speaking at the protest, Comrade Onoriosen Tataunu, leader of Save Udu Forum that protested at Mofor through Express junction. He decried the high rate of youths’ unemployment and poverty in the area. According to him, the establishment of vocational and technical training centres and initiation of empowerment programmes would go a long way in addressing these challenges and urged the Delta State Government led by Governor Oborevwori to do the needful in this regard.
A community leader, Mr. Harrison Umudi also appealed to Governor Oborevwori to effect repairs of Orhuwhorun-Owhrode-Otor-Udu Road for people not only get access to the communities but it would attract the needed development to the area. Also Comr. O. D. S. Akiko of the Udu Kingdom Heritage stress on the need to upgrade the Udu General Hospital and make it functional.
On his part, Chief Jason Mudiagha, the leader of the Make Udu Great who led the protest at Ubogo Market called on the state Governor to consider a second bridge for Udu as the population has increased. Comr. Goodluck Mukoro of the Emancipation Movement for Udu Progress who addressed the press at the Jon Jeff area emphasized the importance and economic value of the Udu-ECN Road as a result of the increasing population of the area.
Bad portion of the roads in Udu L.G.A
The protesters finally registered their protest at Council Secretariat at Otor-Udu, the Headquarters of Udu Local Government Area just as they vowed to continue their protest until something is done to attend to the issues raised.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Vincent Oyibode commended the protesters for a peaceful demonstration. He told the protesters that before now, the Governor had ordered the mapping of the Udu-ECN Road to effect repairs to boost the socioeconomic activities of the area. He however assured them that he would convey their message to His Excellency Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori to do the needful in this regard.
The highlight of the protest was the handover of the list that contains their demands to the Chairman while others looked on.