2026 Budget: Delta govt engages President Generals for community development 

Delta State government has embarked on a proactive measures on grassroots development by engaging community leaders on their needs to be captured in the 2026 state budget.

This was embarked on by the state Executive Assistant to Governor of Delta State on Community Development, Barr. Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu, who engaged 37 President Generals representing the entire Ndokwa/ Ukwuani Federal Constituency, in her maiden engagement with community leaders across the state.

She said the exercise was another attempt by the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to take governance to the grassroots, as he continued with the M.O.R.E. agenda designed for the needed development of the rural areas of the state.

The Executive Assistant said the essence of the One-Day summit was to establish a platform for active and regular interface between government and community leaders, and as a bridge with the grassroot communities.

According to Barr. Osakunih-Izuegbu, “This would help to strengthen grassroot participation in government and governance, empowering local community men, women, and youths through direct engagements in decision-making processes of government.

At the summit, she urged community leaders to select one or two projects that would be of immense benefit to their people, for onward transmission to the Governor and inclusion in the budget under “Community Projects 2026”.

Expectedly, each of the president general did not disappoint as they listed their needs, with the President of the President Generals, Prince Igwe Nzekwe, taking the lead with appreciation to the state government for the proactive initiative.

The grassroots leadership took time to listen their community based needs, such as solar street lights, abandoned old road that passes through eight communities of Afor clan to Obikwele and Ossissa clans, all in Ndokwa East LGA.

Also captured was the security challenges in Obiaruku, headquarters of Ukwuani LGA, the death trap at Obinomba also in Ukwuani LGA; and the abandoned link road from Amoji in Onicha Ukwuani clan of Ndokwa West to Obetim-Afor in Ndokwa East LGA; and another age-long abandoned road linking Ashaka in Ndokwa East to Emu Ebendo in Ndokwa West LGAs.

The need for electricity poles, cables and transformers for Afor, Ossissa and Obikwele clans were also on top of their demands.

Utchi and Abala clans that can serve as food baskets are loosing needed farm produce and revenue to Anambra State, through the River Niger being the only means of transportation, due lack of motorable roads to evacuate agricultural produce into markets in Delta State.

The devastating erosion by the River Niger that has taken up one-third of Utu Oku, Onyia and other clans was on the card, just as the fencing of schools to stem land grabbers and encroachers in Ushe clan also in Ndokwa East LGA were highlighted.

Utagba-Uno in Ndokwa West calls for motorable roads and prepaid meters as light up Ndokwa gains momentum.

Utagba-Ogbe on its part looks forward to a link up to the ongoing Independent Power Project, and promised dualisation of internal roads with flyover by Ogume Junction to ease traffic and stem accidents.

It was not all about needs on parade, as some clans and communities and kingdoms like Beneku, Akarai and others expressed appreciation to the state government for the projects that has been executed and ongoing in their respective locations.

For instance, Beneku was full of appreciation for the completion of the Kwale-Beneku bridge that has put paid to the age-long pontoon that has claimed lives and resources from kingdoms, clans and communities along the corridor.

For the Akarai clans, they are waiting for 2027 for pay back on the ongoing road project, as they also expressed gratitude to both the governor and their son, Hon. Emeka Osamuta.