Protesting Egbema Youths Demand NDDC Attention to Long-abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road

By Monday Peters, Abuja

Angry Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide has staged a peaceful protest at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt on Monday 25th August, 2025, demanding urgent attention to the long-abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road project. The road which was awarded and abandoned by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC connects over 250 communities across three kingdoms, has been in a deplorable state, causing severe economic hardship, health risks, and escalating transport costs.

The protesting EYC made several demands on the NDDC, which included Revoking and re-awarding the Udo-Ofunama Road project to a competent construction firm, Prioritizing oil-rich Egbema communities that contribute massively to Nigeria’s economy of the country, Implementing the Light-Up Niger Delta initiative to address chronic electricity shortages and Establishing youth empowerment programs to support qualified youths.

Others consisted of providing pipe-borne water to end decades of dependence on unsafe sources, sponsoring foreign postgraduate scholarships for outstanding students, and Building vocational training centers to empower grassroots communities.

NDDC while responding to the protesters, its reps Hon. B. Otobo assuring the EYC that their grievances would be communicated to the NDDC Board of Directors and Management. He promised that the Commission would respond to their demands within two months.

Meanwhile, following the assurances, EYC Worldwide President, Comrade Amatelemowei Sode Esq., called off the protest but reaffirmed the Council’s unwavering commitment to seeing the Udo-Ofunama Road project completed. Sode declared that the Egbema youth will “neither rest nor sleep until the Udo-Ofunama Road is fixed,” vowing to monitor NDDC’s response and prepare the next line of action if necessary.