The Office of the Hon. Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, FNSE, strongly condemns the baseless and mischievous claims being circulated by a misguided group of youths from Ugu Ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.
These individuals, driven by entitlement and a lack of understanding of governance, have embarked on an ill-advised smear campaign against the Minister and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by falsely alleging that he commissioned a non-existent road.
To address their ignorance with undeniable facts:
The Abraka-Oben Road commissioned is a real, tangible, and fully completed project, not an illusion as these uninformed agitators claim. The road serves as a vital interstate link between Delta and Edo States, easing movement and significantly improving security in the region.
The entire premise of their agitation is based on falsehood, and it is laughable that they would attempt to mislead the public with such a blatant display of misinformation.
Their argument is fundamentally flawed and illogical—simply because the road did not pass through their community does not make the commissioned road nonexistent. Infrastructure development is carried out in phases, and this particular phase focused on rehabilitating a critical stretch of road notorious for its deteriorated condition, security risks, and economic significance.
The Phase 1 of the project focused on an area that had previously become impassable due to years of neglect. Criminal activities, including kidnappings and armed robbery, thrived on this stretch of road. The intervention by the NDDC under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has drastically improved the situation, a fact that was widely acknowledged by stakeholders, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the traditional rulers present at the commissioning.
The commissioning of this project was graced by top dignitaries, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (represented by his Commissioner for Works, Highways, and Urban Roads, Reuben Izeze), the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, and various royal fathers. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, commended the NDDC for its commitment to delivering critical infrastructure and praised the quality of the project as a major relief for the people of the constituency.
The NDDC and the Ministry of Regional Development operate on a strategic, need-based approach to infrastructure development. There are thousands of communities across the Niger Delta suffering from serious infrastructural deficits—some without potable water, electricity, functional healthcare, or accessible roads. It is nothing short of irresponsibility for a group that should be demanding completion of subsequent phases of the road project to instead waste energy fabricating lies about an already completed and functional road.
Rather than appreciating the intervention that is gradually improving infrastructure across the region, these youths have chosen to engage in senseless propaganda, further exposing their lack of understanding of governance and developmental planning.
Let it be unequivocally stated: The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Regional Development and the NDDC, remains steadfast in delivering transformative projects across all parts of the Niger Delta region. Development is an ongoing process that requires strategic prioritization, and no amount of blackmail, ethnic politics, or entitlement-driven propaganda will derail this commitment.
Communities with genuine development concerns should engage constructively with relevant authorities rather than resort to childish, ill-informed theatrics that do nothing but reveal ignorance and a sense of misplaced entitlement. It is unfortunate that while many communities are struggling with real and pressing issues, this group has chosen to embarrass itself by fighting an imaginary battle over a project that is already a reality.
The Hon. Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, FNSE, urges well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the falsehoods being peddled by these elements. The Ministry will remain focused on delivering sustainable infrastructure that benefits all Niger Deltans, rather than entertaining distractions from those who prefer to manufacture lies instead of advocating for genuine progress.
Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah
Special Assistant on Media
Office of the Honorable Minister of Regional Development
Federal Republic of Nigeria
