Delta community protest bad road, 15-year power outage
Community Protests for Road and Electrification in Delta State
Ivrogbo-Irri, Delta State — Residents of Ivrogbo-Irri, a community in the Isoko South local government area, are calling on the Delta State government to rehabilitate their damaged access road and restore electricity supply.
The appeal was made by local youths, women, and community leaders, who staged a peaceful protest, urging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take immediate action. They claim that the deteriorating road conditions and lack of electricity have severely impacted both economic and social activities within the community.
Local residents emphasized the importance of the road to their economy, which largely depends on farming, palm oil production, fishing, timber activities, and sand excavation. They noted that poor road conditions have made it increasingly difficult to transport goods to neighboring communities and markets, thereby affecting their livelihoods.
Additionally, protestors expressed frustration over the lack of public electricity for more than 15 years, stating that this has adversely affected businesses, education, and overall quality of life in Ivrogbo-Irri.
During the demonstration, a resident attributed the worsening state of the access road to flooding that occurred in 2012, 2018, and 2022. The community’s location in a riverine area makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding, raising concerns that another severe flood could further hinder access.
The protestors highlighted Ivrogbo-Irri’s status as an oil-producing area and called for increased attention to infrastructure and basic amenities. They urged the Delta State government to rehabilitate the road before the upcoming rainy season, warning that further deterioration could isolate the community from surrounding areas.
The residents’ demonstration aimed to draw government attention to what they termed longstanding infrastructure deficits in Ivrogbo-Irri. They reiterated the need for immediate government intervention to address both road and electricity challenges, to improve living conditions and economic opportunities in their community.
