Two Niger Delta-based humanitarian organisations have thrown their support behind the Sheriff Oborevwori administration ahead of the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to Delta State, urging the Federal Government to address key developmental challenges in the region.
The groups — Peace Development, Security and Humanitarian Rights Association of Niger Deltans and Egbema Communities Peace Development and Humanitarian Rights Association — described the planned visit to Warri as historic and a sign of renewed federal attention to the Niger Delta.
President of the coalition, Comrade Mike JK Tiemo, told journalists on Tuesday that the visit was symbolic and timely, noting that it offered an opportunity to strengthen engagement between the Federal Government and oil-producing communities.
In a statement issued in Warri, Tiemo said the First Lady’s visit represented a bridge of solidarity with the people of the region and a chance to address longstanding humanitarian and developmental concerns.
He commended the state government for its partnership with the Federal Government but outlined areas where urgent intervention was required.
Top among the demands was the revitalisation of the Warri Port, which the groups described as a dormant economic asset capable of boosting commerce and employment if fully operational.
They also called for the establishment of an administrative and training centre of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Warri, saying the move would strengthen security capacity and stimulate economic growth.
The associations further urged the Federal Government to commence construction of the proposed coastal highway linking Rivers State to Ondo State, noting that the project would enhance trade, tourism and regional integration across the Niger Delta corridor.
On environmental issues, the groups demanded compensation and remediation for communities affected by the Bonga oil spill, stressing that justice for victims remained crucial to sustainable peace in the region.
They also appealed for the construction of the Udo-Ofunama-Ogbudugbudu Road in Delta State to improve rural connectivity and access to social services.
In the education sector, the organisations advocated the upgrade of the College of Education, Warri into a specialised university focused on criminology, pharmacology and environmental research, arguing that such an institution would address security, public health and ecological challenges in the Niger Delta.
The groups further called for increased participation of women in governance, proposing a 40 per cent inclusion benchmark. They praised the First Lady for her advocacy on women empowerment and expressed hope that her visit would promote gender equity.
Reaffirming their commitment to peace and development, the associations pledged continued collaboration with government at all levels to advance security, humanitarian progress and inclusive governance in the region.
They expressed optimism that the First Lady’s visit would translate into tangible federal interventions capable of unlocking the socio-economic potential of Delta State and the wider Niger Delta.
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