By Ayomide Otitoju
Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently declare a state of emergency on the roads in the South-South region. In a letter to the president, Clark criticized the poor state of roads in the oil-rich area, highlighting the significant hardships faced by its residents as a result.
Clark’s appeal comes as he advocates for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the region’s road network to be prioritized in the 2025 federal budget. He emphasized that such actions are essential to alleviate the suffering of local communities and to foster economic development.
“I am writing this passionate appeal to you to declare an emergency in the coming 2025 budget and direct your Minister of Works and relevant agencies to intensify efforts to repair these roads,” Clark stated. “We demand that the Niger Delta, the treasure base of the country, be declared an emergency without further delay.”
In his address, Clark underscored the paradox of the South-South region—home to Nigeria’s oil production—suffering from infrastructural neglect. “It is difficult to understand why roads in the communities that produce the resources sustaining this country are in such a terrible state,” he remarked. He lamented the long-standing environmental damage in the Niger Delta, which has compounded the region’s hardships over generations.
With current oil production levels at 1.8 million barrels per day and oil prices hovering around US$73 per barrel, Clark argued that the necessary repairs to the roads could be financed within a week’s production of oil. He cited specific examples to illustrate the dire situation, noting that the Benin-Auchi Road, which typically takes commuters 2½ hours to traverse, now requires an average of 7 hours due to its deteriorating condition. In some instances, travelers must navigate rural communities in Ekiti State simply to reconnect with the main road.
Clark’s letter serves as a pressing call for immediate government intervention to address the critical infrastructure needs of the Niger Delta, a region integral to Nigeria’s economy yet suffering from neglect.
