Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently declare a state of emergency on the deteriorating road infrastructure in the South-South region of Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to the president on Sunday, Clark expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of roads in the oil-producing region, highlighting the immense hardship this has caused for residents and the negative impact on economic development.
He urged the president to prioritise the rehabilitation and reconstruction of these roads in the 2025 federal budget, describing the situation as critical.
“I am making this passionate appeal for you to declare an emergency in the upcoming 2025 budget and direct your Minister of Works and relevant agencies to intensify efforts to repair these roads,” Clark wrote. “Mr President, we therefore demand that the Niger Delta, the treasure base of the country, be declared an emergency zone in 2025 without further delay.”
A Treasure Base Deserving Attention
Clark emphasised that the Niger Delta, as the economic hub of the nation, warrants a higher level of attention given its contributions to the national economy.
“Mr President, I understand that resources are limited and demands are numerous; however, it is incomprehensible that the communities which produce the wealth that sustains this nation are left with roads in such an appalling state,” he lamented.
He added that the region has already suffered decades of environmental degradation and questioned why the government has neglected its infrastructure needs despite the billions generated from oil production daily.
“With oil production at 1.8 million barrels per day and oil prices around $73 per barrel, it is difficult to justify why our roads remain in such a deplorable condition. The cost of fixing these roads amounts to less than a week’s oil production revenue,” Clark noted.
Clark singled out the Benin-Auchi Road as an example of the region’s infrastructural crisis.
“Under normal circumstances, the Benin-Auchi Road should take commuters 2½ hours to traverse. Currently, it takes an average of 7 hours, with travellers often forced to detour through rural communities in Ekiti State just to return to the main road,” he said.
Clark’s appeal underscores the urgency of addressing the region’s infrastructural challenges, not only to alleviate the suffering of its residents but also to bolster economic activity in this critical area of Nigeria.