Professor Benjamin Okaba, head of the Ijaw National Council, spoke out on Wednesday about the poor state of the Niger Delta. He said the region, which produces much of Nigeria’s oil, is being ignored by the government, as reported by Vanguard on Wednesday August 27, 2025.
According to Okaba, the Niger Delta has helped Nigeria grow rich through oil production. But despite this, the area still struggles with bad roads, few jobs, and little development. He believes the region is being treated unfairly. He compared the situation to Lagos, where big projects like the Third Mainland Bridge have been built. Okaba asked why similar projects are not happening in the Niger Delta, even though it provides the resources that power the country’s economy.
“If you take the state of roads in the Niger Delta, if you take the employment opportunities, if you take the development yardstick, we have nothing to show for what we are producing. If you can construct a Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, what stops you from constructing such fantastic infrastructure in the Niger Delta, where you produce these resources and galvanize the nation’s economy?”
