Delta Community Protests Over 19yrs Blackout

By Kpaidia Preye

The Kwale community youth in Delta State June 16, 2025 have taken to the streets to express their deep-seated frustrations over a Nineteen years blackout in their community, a situation they described as having reached a boiling point.

The protesters, armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “We Need Light, Not Darkness” and “Electricity is a Right, Not a Privilege”.

The young protesters marched through the major streets of the town, drawing attention to the hardship and insecurity that the absence of reliable power supply had brought upon their lives.

According to the protesters, the unavailability of electricity had not only hampered their daily business activities but also exposed them to various dangers, including armed robbery and kidnapping, which thrived in the darkness.

On Tuesday at 11am, the protesters had blocked the major road linking Ogwashi Uku to Ughelli and Ozoro, restricting the movement of travellers. The roadblock caused significant disruptions, leaving commuters stranded and facing difficulties in reaching their destinations.

It was gathered that pedestrians were forced to navigate through the congested roads, risking their safety and security.

The protesters’ demands included the installation of new transformers, repair of faulty ones, and increased security measures to prevent vandalism. They also called for the government to ensure that the electricity distribution company provides regular power supply to their community, citing the negative impact of the persistent outages on their businesses, education, and overall well-being.

Our reporters said at mid-day, the protesters showed no signs of backing down, vowing to continue their demonstration until their demands were meant.

However, the community was hopeful that their voices would be heard and that the authorities would take immediate action to restore power supply and improve their living conditions. As the protest continues, the people of Kwale are resolute in their determination to have their grievances addressed.