Residents of Ivrogbo-Irri in Isoko South local government area of Delta State have called on the state government to rehabilitate their damaged access road and restore electricity to the community.
The community leaders, women and youths, appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently intervene, saying the deteriorating state of the road and prolonged absence of electricity have seriously hindered economic and social activities in the community.
While staging a peaceful protest, residents said the road is particularly important to the local economy, which they described as being largely dependent on farming, palm oil production, fishing, timber-related activities and sand excavation.
They said the poor road conditions have made it increasingly difficult to transport farm produce and other goods to neighbouring communities and markets, with the resulting challenges affecting their livelihoods.
The protesters also raised concerns over what they described as more than 15 years without public electricity supply, saying the situation has negatively affected businesses, education and other aspects of community life.
Speaking in an interview, one of the residents, who preferred anonymity, attributed the worsening condition of the access road to damage caused by flooding in 2012, 2018 and 2022.
The residents said Ivrogbo-Irri’s location within a riverine environment makes the community particularly vulnerable during periods of heavy flooding, and expressed concern that another severe flood could further compromise access to the area.
The protesters also described the community as an oil-producing area and appealed for greater attention to infrastructure and basic amenities.
They urged the Delta State Government to rehabilitate the road before the peak of the next flooding season, warning that further deterioration could leave the community more isolated from neighbouring areas.
The residents appealed to Governor Oborevwori to address the road and electricity challenges, alongside other infrastructure needs, to improve living conditions and economic opportunities in the area.
Recall that a similar protest tagged “Isoko Needs Light”, convened by Ubara Obaro, was held at the Delta state government House about tow months ago.
Another protester, Billymore Ogodo condemned the government for neglecting the people of the area, calling on the present administration to attend to their plight and provide electricity to the entire Isoko local government.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Energy, Michael Anoka, attributed the situation to the failure of past governments to fix the problem since 2011.
Anoka assured the people that governor Oborevwori is already looking into the matter, promising that the government will find a lasting solution to the problem
