Renowned peace, environmental and justice advocate, Comrade (Dr) Sheriff Mulade, has taken a swipe at the Federal Government over what he described as the “deliberate neglect” of Niger Delta’s coastal communities, despite being the source of the oil revenues used to bankroll mega projects in other parts of the country.

Mulade’s outcry follows the Federal Government’s announcement through the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, of a ₦3.8 trillion allocation for the rehabilitation of Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge—a project already gulping billions in previous emergency repairs.

“What About Niger Delta?”

In a communique made available to Jungle-Journalist.Com, the Ibe Serimowei of Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom questioned why coastal areas in Delta, Bayelsa, and other Niger Delta states—where oil and gas exploration fuels Nigeria’s economy—remain abandoned without viable bridges and road networks.

“While I commend President Tinubu for landmark projects, including the Third Mainland Bridge allocation, why can’t we also have significant projects that give the Niger Delta people a sense of belonging?” Mulade asked.

“If ₦3.8 trillion can be thrown into Lagos, what is the fate of Niger Delta where 80 percent of this money comes from through oil revenues?”

He highlighted abandoned demands for projects such as:

• Warri–Gbaramatu–Escravos Bridge
• Forcados–Ogulagha Bridge
• Extension of Ayakoroma Bridge to Burutu Forcados Terminal

According to him, these would open up communities like Odimodi, Izon-Burutu, Age, and Obotobo to infrastructural and economic development, yet government after government has looked the other way.

Deliberate Neglect of Coastal Communities

Mulade accused non-Ijaw governors in the region of systematically sidelining Ijaw-dominated coastal areas:

“They deliberately deprive us of developmental projects that are our rights in Nigeria. Instead, they concentrate on upland areas to attract investors, leaving our people in poverty and forcing us to migrate upland for education, health, and business.”

He noted that while Lagos can survive largely on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Niger Delta’s coastal communities—which provide the oil and gas wealth driving such projects—are treated as expendable.

Call to Tinubu

Mulade appealed to President Tinubu to reverse the injustice, insisting that the Niger Delta deserves the same level of infrastructural attention:

“The Federal Government must open up our coastal communities with affordable transport infrastructure to attract investors, create jobs, and unlock wealth creation opportunities in the blue economy.”

He warned that continuing to ignore the region amounts to economic sabotage against the very people whose resources sustain Nigeria’s mega projects elsewhere.