Breaking: Egbema Youth Council Worldwide Suspends Protest After NDDC Engagement on Udo-Ofunama Road



Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Monday, 25th August 2025

The much-anticipated peaceful protest by the Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide over the abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road project took place today at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Hundreds of determined youths, community representatives, and traditional stakeholders from Egbema Kingdom in Edo and Delta States gathered in solidarity, demanding immediate government action on the abandoned project, which they described as a “lifeline road” for over 250 oil-producing communities.

✊ The Protest

The youths, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Udo-Ofunama Road Is Our Right, Not a Favor”, “Over 10 Years of Abandonment is Injustice”, and “No Development, No Peace”, peacefully marched to the gates of the NDDC headquarters.

The protest, which was marked by songs of unity and resilience, was designed to draw urgent attention to the deliberate neglect of Egbema people, despite their enormous contributions to Nigeria’s oil wealth.

🤝 Engagement with NDDC Management

After several hours of engagement, the management of the NDDC met with the leadership of the Egbema Youth Council. During the dialogue, the Commission assured the youths that it would continue constructive engagement with all stakeholders until the Udo-Ofunama Road project is re-awarded and contractors remobilized back to site.

According to insiders at the meeting, NDDC officials acknowledged the long-standing frustration of the Egbema people and promised that the road project remains on the Commission’s development agenda.

📌 Resolution: Protest Suspended

Following the assurances received, the leadership of the EYC Worldwide announced the suspension of the protest, stressing that their action was never intended to cause instability but to demand accountability and fairness.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the engagement, the President General of EYC Worldwide, Comrade Amatelemowei Sode, stated:

“We came here today to remind the NDDC that Egbema people are not second-class citizens. The Udo-Ofunama Road is our lifeline, and its abandonment for more than 10 years is unacceptable. After fruitful engagement today, we are suspending the protest in good faith, but we will not hesitate to resume if promises are not fulfilled.”

⚠️ The Stakes

The Udo-Ofunama Road, first awarded in 2012, was expected to link several riverine and upland communities in Egbema Kingdom. Its abandonment has left communities stranded, with farmers, traders, students, and patients struggling to access essential services.

Egbema youths argue that the project’s neglect reflects a broader pattern of marginalization of Niger Delta oil-bearing communities.

🔍 Next Steps

  • NDDC: To sustain engagement and provide timelines for re-award of the project.

  • EYC Worldwide: To remain vigilant, mobilized, and ready to reactivate peaceful demonstrations if government delays persist.

  • Communities: To monitor progress and ensure transparency in project execution.

✒️ Conclusion

Today’s protest and its resolution mark a watershed moment in the Egbema struggle for development. By forcing NDDC into direct engagement, the EYC Worldwide has once again proven that peaceful activism can yield results.

The ball is now firmly in the court of the NDDC—to turn promises into action and finally deliver the Udo-Ofunama Road, a road that means survival, dignity, and justice for the Egbema people.

✅ Author: Prince Agbedeyi Odimientimi Desmond 
📌 Publisher: Global Egberi Media International

🌐 Website: https://globalegberi.blogspot.com
📧 Email: globalegberimedia@gmail.com
📞 Nigeria: +234 813 490 2214

🏷️ Tags:

Egbema Youth Council, NDDC, Niger Delta, Udo-Ofunama Road, Edo State, Delta State, Peaceful Protest, Development

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