Udo Ofunama Road: Agbedeyi Desmond Hails Community Efforts, Urges Completion of Abandoned N3bn NDDC Project

Udo Ofunama Road: Agbedeyi Desmond Hails Community Efforts, Urges Completion of Abandoned N3bn NDDC Project

By Egbema Egberi Media (+2348134902214)

Ofunama, Edo State – A prominent youth advocate and community leader, Agbedeyi Odimientimi Desmond, has extended heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated individuals who recently undertook emergency rehabilitation of the Udo Ofunama Road, while renewing calls on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently mobilize for the completion of the long-abandoned project, originally awarded for over ₦3 billion.

The Udo Ofunama Road, a critical artery in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, is the primary land route serving Ofunama—the administrative headquarters of Egbema Kingdom—as well as several other Ijaw communities. For decades, the road has remained a lifeline for commerce, transportation, education, and access to healthcare for thousands of residents across the kingdom.

“We appreciate the spirited individuals who volunteered their time and resources to make the road motorable again. But these are only palliative measures. We urgently need the state government and the NDDC to take over and complete the work they started many years ago,” said Mr. Desmond.

Contracted, Mobilized… and Abandoned

The NDDC had awarded the Udo Ofunama Road project more than a decade ago at a cost exceeding ₦3 billion. According to local sources, over ₦1 billion was paid as mobilization to the contractor. However, only about 3 kilometers out of the planned 47 kilometers were constructed before the project was inexplicably abandoned.

Mr. Desmond noted that even the completed 3km stretch is now failing, riddled with erosion, potholes, and sections that are gradually becoming impassable again.

“This is unacceptable. Taxpayer money was released. The community deserves full transparency and accountability. We are not just demanding a road; we are demanding justice,” he emphasized.

 A Road of Economic and Historical Importance

The Udo Ofunama Road has deep historical and economic significance. Originally a footpath used by Egbema ancestors for trade and communication, it evolved into a major access route connecting the resource-rich Ijaw communities of Edo State to urban centers. It supports the movement of seafood, timber, palm produce, and agricultural goods from the creeks to mainland markets.

During colonial and post-independence periods, the route became central to Ofunama’s emergence as an administrative and trading hub. Today, its decay has severely hindered socio-economic development, cut off access to basic services, and isolates several communities during the rainy season.

A Plea to Governor Okpebholo and the NDDC

Agbedeyi Desmond is urging Governor Monday Okpebholo and the NDDC leadership to re-award the contract to a competent, transparent contractor and ensure community involvement in monitoring its implementation. He stressed that the road’s rehabilitation should be holistic—covering drainage, culverts, and asphalt finishing—and not piecemeal.

“We are watching. We will continue to speak out until this project is revived and completed. The people of Egbema Kingdom have suffered enough neglect. This road is not a privilege—it is a right,” Desmond concluded.

As the rains return and fears of renewed flooding mount, the people of Egbema Kingdom wait anxiously for a response—hopeful that this time, real action will follow the promises.