Edo Youths Accuse Minister of Commissioning Nonexistent Road

Babatunj Wusu –

• Accusation Against Minister: The Ugu Youths for Developmental Change (UYDC) allege that Minister Abubakar Momoh commissioned a road that does not exist in their locality.
• Protest in Benin City: The youths, representing 13 communities in Ugu Ward, Orhionmwon LGA, condemned the move as an attempt to mask the continued neglect of their region.
• Claims of Neglect: The group argues that Oben, which houses the largest gas deposit in West Africa, has been overlooked by the Ministry of Regional Development and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
• Minister’s Response: Momoh denies the allegations, clarifying that the commissioned road runs from Abraka (Delta State) to Oben, not from Benin to Oben.

A youth group in Edo State, under the aegis of Ugu Youths for Developmental Change (UYDC), has accused the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, of commissioning a nonexistent road in their community.

The group staged a protest in Benin City on Monday, condemning the act as a deliberate attempt to obscure the longstanding neglect of Ugu Ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Coordinator Monday Osemwenkhae alleged that the so-called “Abraka-Oben Road,” commissioned by the minister, does not exist. He further claimed that the minister’s actions were aimed at diverting attention from the poor state of infrastructure in Oben, a community with the highest gas deposit in West Africa.

“For years, Oben has been used as a ‘cash cow’ without any significant development. The roads linking our community—Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba and Umoghun-Nokhua-Oben—remain in terrible condition. One of them is even being reconstructed through private and community funding,” Osemwenkhae stated.

However, Minister Abubakar Momoh refuted the claims, insisting that the commissioned road runs from Abraka (in Delta State) to Oben, not from Benin to Oben.

“They need to get the facts right. The road we commissioned is from Abraka to Oben, not from Benin to Oben. This route is now accessible without stress,” Momoh clarified.

Despite the minister’s explanation, the protesting youths maintain their stance, urging the federal government to address the infrastructural challenges in their region rather than what they perceive as deceptive gestures.