By DADA AYOKHAI
The Minister for Regional Development Commission, Engr. Abubakar Momoh and Youths from Ugu in Orhionmwon local government are presently at logger head over the Commissioning of Abraka _ Oben Road.
Recall,Hon Abubakar Momoh, minister of Regional Development along with the NDDC officials recently commissioned the Abraka_ oben road amidst funfare in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State
The Youths under the auspices of UGU for Development for Change (UYDC)led a protest to the state secretariat of the Nigerian union of journalists claiming that road does not exist in their locality.
The group who said their members cut across youths from over 13 communities in Ugu Ward, including Urhehue, Oben, Odighi, Obanokhoro and others, had alleged that the said road was non existing.
The Coordinator of the youths, Comrade Monday Osemwenkhae, in a statement titled: ‘Commissioning a non existing Abraka-Oben Road’, described the commissioning of the road as a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of the area that houses the largest gas deposit in West Africa.
”We are here to say that the said Abraka-Oben Road which was commissioned by the Honourable Minister for Regional Development, Hon. Engr Abubakar Momoh, is not existing any where in our locality.
”The said road is a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of our area by his Ministry and its affiliate agency and commission like the NDDC, for a very long period.
”For emphasis, Oben oil field houses the highest gas deposit in West Africa, which the Ministry of Regional Development is supposed to handle the development of its environ with keen gloves.
”But, what we have just gotten is a commissioning of a none existing road with our community name attached to divert attention from the neglect of the roads in that area.
”The link roads to Oben are the Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba road, and Umoghun-Nokhua Oben road. The former is currently undergoing construction courtesy of community fund and private company.
”The name ‘Oben’ is being used as a cash cow for many years, and we expect the present Nigerian government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to change the narrative, rather than her Minister commissioning a none existing road using our community name,” the statement said.
However, when contacted on phone, the Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, explained that the road commissioned is from the Delta State end, Abraka to Oben.
”They should go through Abraka to Oben. We didn’t say from Benin to Oben, we said Abraka to Oben, that is, from the Delta end, so, they should get it clear.
”You can now move from Oben to Abraka without stress. The Ministry did the one from Benin to up to 20 kilometers before. The other one, they are taking of, from Abraka to Benin, the first phase has been completed, it’s a 10-kilometer road, Abraka to Oben, not Benin to Abraka,”Momoh explained.
