Niger Delta Leaders Urge Action On Roads, Environmental Concerns

The delegation, led by former acting national chairman of the APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, and Chief Ayari Emami, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Eta said the delegates raised concerns over crumbling roads and severe ecological degradation across states such as Niger, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.

The leaders also highlighted ongoing ecological issues affecting the region, which they said require immediate intervention.

 “We have some ecological concerns in Niger, Bayelsa, Ondo, and also have certain very bad roads in Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.

“In fact, the only road that connects Cross River and Akwa Ibom is impassable at this point. These are some of the issues we brought to his attention.”

Speaking on President Tinubu’s response, Eta said the President was “attentive” and “positively disposed” to addressing the region’s challenges.

On timelines for interventions, Eta said the meeting did not discuss time lag to addressing the challenges but assured that in no time, attention will be given to the issues.

  “You see, we did not go into the details of timelines and all of that. But we have brought it to his attention, and because he is positively disposed to addressing these challenges facing our people, we are very sure that, in no time, he will pay attention to those matters.

“One of the things we also discussed in terms of the leadership challenges of Nigeria—my own take personally—is that in leadership and the kind of leadership that Nigeria needs today, technocrats do not build a nation, politicians don’t build a nation, only patriots do. We are happy that we have a patriot in Aso Villa. We are delighted that Nigeria is number one in this regard,” he added.