The South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI) on Tuesday gave the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) a 14-day ultimatum to fix the abandoned Bien-Gwara–Laalaa Road project in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Key Highlights
- SSYI and Bien-Gwara Community give NDDC 14 days to act on the Bien-Gwara–Laalaa Road in Khana LGA.
- Group threatens peaceful protests and petitions to the Presidency, National Assembly and anti-graft agencies.
- Demands include the project’s funding status, contractor’s identity and a completion timeline.
- Residents say the road’s condition has disrupted trade and movement of farm produce.
- Group appeals to NDDC MD Samuel Ogbuku to treat the matter with urgency.
The group in a joint statement with the Bien-Gwara Community warned that it would organise peaceful protests and petition relevant government authorities if the commission fails to provide a satisfactory response and demonstrate tangible steps toward rehabilitating the road within the stipulated period.
The ultimatum follows what the youths and the community described as the prolonged neglect of the road despite several letters, appeals and representations by the community to the NDDC.
In the statement signed by its National President, Imeabe Oscar, the SSYI said the deplorable condition of the road has subjected residents to hardship, disrupted economic activities and hindered the transportation of agricultural produce, goods and services.
It described the road as a critical economic corridor serving thousands of people, insisting that its continued neglect is unacceptable.
“It is deeply worrisome and unacceptable that despite the patience and lawful approach adopted by the community, the NDDC has failed to give a satisfactory response or demonstrate any tangible intervention on the road,” the statement said.
Group’s Demands
The organisation called on the NDDC management to acknowledge and respond to previous correspondence from the community, provide an update on the project’s approval and funding status, and disclose the identity of the contractor handling the project, if one had been appointed.
It also demanded an immediate inspection and technical assessment of the road, the commencement or resumption of construction work, and a definite timeline for the project’s execution and completion.
The group further urged the commission to establish a communication channel with community leaders and youth representatives to facilitate information sharing and monitoring of the project.
Threat Of Protest
The SSYI said it has exhausted peaceful avenues of engagement and would be compelled to take further action if the NDDC fails to meet its demands within 14 days.
It listed peaceful mass protests and formal petitions to the Presidency, the National Assembly Committee on NDDC and relevant anti-graft agencies among the measures it would consider to compel the commission to complete the road.
The group, however, stressed that any action taken would remain peaceful and within the provisions of the constitution.
“Our preference remains dialogue and peaceful resolution. We believe no responsible government institution would want a legitimate community demand to escalate when it can be resolved through timely intervention,” the statement added.
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The SSYI appealed to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, to treat the matter with urgency, saying the Bien-Gwara people had waited patiently for the project to receive the attention it deserved.
Copies of the statement were sent to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area and the Rivers State Commissioner for Works.
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