Over 200 youths took to the streets of Kwale in Ndokwa West local government area of Delta State on Monday to protest the 16-year power outage affecting the Ndokwa region, particularly Kwale metropolitan town.
The protest, which began around 6 am, saw demonstrators blocking major highways and disrupting commercial activities across the area. By 9 am, security agents dispersed the initial gathering with teargas after protesters blocked the Ughelli/Ogwashi Ukwu expressway at New Haven junction in Umuseti, Utagba Ogbe Kingdom.
Undeterred, the protesters quickly regrouped and blocked the Umusam Junction by Technical College/Ughelli park using a trailer and other objects. The youths carried placards with inscriptions such as "Light Up Ndokwa Nation", "No Light, No Peace", and "We are Tired of Darkness" as they marched through Kwale's major thoroughfares.
Strategic Blockades Paralyze Transportation
The demonstrators established strategic blockades at key locations, including Ogume Junction along the Asaba–Kwale–Ozoro highway and the Technical College junction in Kwale on the Asaba–Ughelli Road. These actions effectively halted vehicular movement between Asaba, Kwale, and Ozoro, creating long queues of stranded passengers.
Business activities in Kwale were completely shut down as tension mounted in the community, with residents expressing fear over possible escalation of the situation.
Protesters Demand Power from Okpai Plant
A spokesperson for the protesters, who declined to be named, explained that their primary demand is for the Okpai Power Plant Step-Down facility to supply electricity to Ndokwa communities. He highlighted the irony that despite hosting the Okpai Gas Reserves and power installations that contribute significantly to Nigeria's national grid, Ndokwa communities have remained in darkness for 16 years.
"The Delta State government and the Federal Ministry of Power should intervene and address the demands of the protesting youths before the situation spirals out of control," the spokesperson warned.
Military personnel and police officers were stationed at various points to monitor the situation, though no clashes between protesters and security forces were reported. A senior police officer overseeing security operations declined to comment when approached, directing inquiries to the Delta State Police headquarters in Asaba.
Political Support for the Protest
Notably, the "Light Up Ndokwa" protest has received support from prominent political figures from the area. The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, and former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Friday Osanebi, both natives of Ndokwa, had earlier declared their full support for the demonstration.
The protest underscores a long-standing grievance in Ndokwa land, where residents feel marginalized and neglected despite their region's significant contribution to Nigeria's energy infrastructure.
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