Tuodolo accuses FG of sidelining Niger Delta over coastal highway 

Pioneer President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, has accused the Federal Government of shortchanging the Niger Delta region over the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the oil-producing region deserves priority in infrastructure development.

Tuodolo, who reaffirmed the region’s demand for resource control, expressed concern over developments surrounding the coastal highway project, alleging that the Niger Delta axis was being sidelined while attention was being concentrated on the Lagos-to-Ondo section.

In a statement titled “The Struggle Continues,” Tuodolo, who is also the Secretary General of the Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), argued that it was unacceptable for the Federal Government to develop one section of the coastal highway while allegedly depriving the Niger Delta of a similar infrastructure project that had previously been planned and budgeted for.

He maintained that the Niger Delta had a legitimate claim to the coastal highway, describing it as one of the demands of the people that previous administrations had approved.

According to him, it was particularly troubling that the development of the Lagos-to-Ondo section would largely depend on resources generated from the Niger Delta, while the region itself was allegedly being denied the same level of infrastructure investment.

Tuodolo also faulted comments suggesting that constructing the Niger Delta section, particularly through Ijaw communities, including Bayelsa State, would be too expensive.

He said such arguments were unacceptable, insisting that the cost of developing the region should not become an excuse for denying its people critical infrastructure.

His words, “When it comes to entering the Niger Delta to explore and exploit her natural resources, it is not too expensive, but to develop the Niger Delta is too expensive. This is totally unacceptable to us.”

The rights advocate called on the Federal Government to allow every nationality in Nigeria to control its God-given resources and determine its pace of development.

He argued that resource control would enable the Niger Delta to undertake major infrastructure projects, including coastal highways, without relying on what he described as excuses from the Federal Government.

Tuodolo stressed that the region should not be expected to continue contributing significantly to the nation’s economy while its own development needs were neglected.

Meanwhile, Tuodolo has called on the people of Bayelsa State and other supporters of the Niger Delta struggle to attend court proceedings scheduled for Monday at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa.

He disclosed that two suits instituted against the Federal Government, bordering on resource control and the demand for additional local government areas for Bayelsa State, would come up for hearing.

He urged the public to demonstrate solidarity with the cases by attending the court sessions, describing the legal action as an important part of the ongoing struggle for resource control and the development of the Niger Delta.

Tuodolo said the quest for control of the region’s God-given resources required renewed commitment and active participation from the people.

He called for greater public support for the struggle, insisting that the Niger Delta must be allowed to determine its development priorities and benefit more directly from its natural resources.