SSYI, Bien-Gwara Community Give NDDC 14-Day Ultimatum Over Abandoned Road Project
The South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI), in collaboration with the people of Bien-Gwara Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to address the prolonged neglect of the Bien-Gwara–Laalaa Road project.
The group, which expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the road, said the ultimatum followed several formal letters, appeals and representations reportedly submitted to the commission by the community without a satisfactory response or tangible intervention.
In a press statement signed by the National President of SSYI, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, on behalf of the initiative and Bien-Gwara Community, the group described the road as a critical economic corridor serving thousands of residents and supporting commercial activities in the area.
According to the statement, the poor condition of the road has caused significant hardship for residents, hindered the transportation of agricultural produce and other goods, disrupted the movement of people and services, and negatively affected the economic livelihoods of the affected communities.
The group expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as the commission's prolonged failure to respond adequately to the community's concerns, despite its commitment to pursuing a peaceful and lawful resolution.
SSYI and the community are therefore demanding that the NDDC formally acknowledge and respond to previous correspondence concerning the project and provide a comprehensive update on its approval, funding and implementation status.
They also called on the commission to disclose the contractor handling the project, where applicable, and clarify the current stage of the contract.
Other demands include an immediate inspection and technical assessment of the road, the commencement or resumption of meaningful construction work, and the provision of a definite timeline for the project's execution and completion.
The group further urged the NDDC to establish an effective communication channel with community leaders and youth representatives to facilitate information sharing, accountability and monitoring of the project.
14-Day Ultimatum
The statement said the commission has 14 days from the date of receipt of the statement to provide a satisfactory response and demonstrate tangible steps towards addressing the road project's prolonged neglect.
SSYI warned that failure to meet the demands within the stipulated period would compel the group and the community to embark on lawful and peaceful actions to draw the attention of relevant authorities and the general public to their concerns.
The proposed actions, according to the statement, include peaceful mass protests and the submission of formal petitions to relevant government authorities, regulatory bodies and oversight institutions.
Among the institutions to be petitioned are the Presidency, the National Assembly Committee on NDDC and relevant anti-corruption agencies.
The group, however, emphasised that any action arising from the dispute would be peaceful, orderly and conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Reaffirming its preference for dialogue, SSYI said the matter could be resolved through timely intervention by the commission, stressing that the community's demand for road infrastructure was legitimate and deserved urgent attention.
The group consequently appealed to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take concrete steps towards resolving the concerns raised by the community.
Copies of the statement were forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command; the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers State Command; the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt; the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command; the Executive Chairman of Khana Local Government Area; and the Rivers State Commissioner for Works.
The community and SSYI maintained that their primary objective remained the restoration of the road project and the alleviation of the hardship faced by residents of Bien-Gwara and neighbouring communities.
