Concerned citizens of Southern Ijaw Constituency 3 have issued a heartfelt appeal to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urging the agency to prioritize the rehabilitation and development of critical intra-community road networks across the constituency.
The call was conveyed in an open letter addressed to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel W. Ogbuku.
In the letter, Mr. Gideon Efere, writing on behalf of residents and stakeholders from the constituency, expressed appreciation for the Commission’s recent intervention in the Nangi-Ama community through the installation of solar-powered streetlights.
The swift implementation of that project, he noted, reflects the agency’s responsiveness to grassroots needs.
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However, Mr. Efere highlighted that beyond lighting, Southern Ijaw Constituency 3 is in dire need of improved transportation infrastructure. He emphasized that once-functional road corridors—linking communities such as Ekowe, Ikianbiri, Peremabiri, Diebu, Enuwari, and Opuama—have largely deteriorated, with some routes now reduced to footpaths due to long-term neglect.
“These routes, which once formed crucial networks, have been overlooked and abandoned for a protracted period,” he wrote. “They are essential infrastructure that will foster cohesion between neighbouring communities and bring our remote settlements closer together.”
The appeal listed four key corridors that require urgent intervention:
- Ekowe – Ikianbiri – Peremabiri – Igbumatoru (Corridor 1)
- Peremabiri Rice Farm – Diebu (Corridor 2)
- Enuwari – Nangi Ama (Corridor 3)
- Fonibiri – Opuama (Corridor 4)
Mr. Efere emphasized that the rehabilitation of these roads would significantly enhance access to healthcare, educational institutions such as the Federal Polytechnic in Ekowe, and local markets. He noted that such improvements would not only boost the local economy but also contribute meaningfully to the state’s overall GDP.
He concluded the appeal by urging Dr. Ogbuku to leverage his leadership and the NDDC’s development mandate to restore the long-forgotten road networks, bringing “hope and progress” to thousands of constituents in Southern Ijaw.
“This request is not unrealistic,” he stated. “It is a vital, community-oriented demand that aligns directly with the NDDC’s core values of regional transformation and equitable development.”
As residents await a response, the appeal underscores a broader concern about infrastructure deficits in rural Niger Delta communities and the need for sustained and inclusive development strategies.
