By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Dec. 15, 2025 – A stark plea for development has emerged from the heart of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, highlighting the persistent paradox of resource wealth existing alongside profound community neglect. Leaders from Izombe, a significant oil-bearing community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, have issued a compelling appeal to both the Federal and State Governments for urgent intervention to address a crippling deficit in basic infrastructure.
The appeal was formally presented by Mr. Valentine Onwuka, Chairman of the Izombe Central Union (ICU) Abuja Branch, and the union’s Patron, Chief Vitus Egwuagu, during their End of Year Get Together in Abuja. Their statements painted a picture of a community bearing the heavy burdens of oil extraction—environmental degradation, economic disruption—while being systematically excluded from its benefits.
Onwuka lamented the community’s state of underdevelopment, which he described as “unacceptable” for an area that contributes to the national treasury. “As an oil-producing community, these basic necessities are not privileges; they are our rights,” he asserted, listing the absence of good roads, functional schools, stable electricity, and other social infrastructure. This sentiment underscores a fundamental grievance in the Niger Delta: the failure of the Derivation Principle and corporate social responsibility frameworks to translate resource wealth into tangible local development.
The environmental cost was detailed with painful clarity. Onwuka reported that economic trees and agricultural livelihoods have been destroyed by gas flaring and pollution linked to oil activities. “There is nothing on ground to show that oil is being produced in Izombe,” he stated, pointing to the ‘resource curse’ phenomenon where natural wealth leads to poorer economic and social outcomes for the local population.
A critical part of the appeal focused on the broken social contract with multinational oil companies. Onwuka noted that Izombe, one of Imo’s first oil-producing communities, has not benefited from standard industry practices like educational scholarships (local or international) or meaningful community development projects. This neglect has a cascading effect: “The impact of crises and neglect on education in the area is worrisome… many government schools are left with only a few teachers.” This creates a vicious cycle where environmental damage limits economic alternatives, and infrastructural neglect cripples the education system that could empower the next generation.
Beyond infrastructure, the leaders emphasized the need for inclusive and reconciliatory governance. Onwuka warned against political divisions and revenge-driven leadership, stating, “Reconciliation builds communities and nations. Hatred and resentment only destroy them. We need leaders whose focus will be unity and development, not division.” This call highlights the internal challenges that often compound external neglect, making cohesive advocacy difficult.
Chief Vitus Egwuagu, a retired Deputy Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), provided historical context to the infrastructural decay. He pinpointed the Izombe/Ogbaku road, constructed in 1979 during the Sam Mbakwe administration, which has now deteriorated due to heavy use by oil industry trucks without commensurate maintenance. “The community has remained peaceful over the years, yet nothing is being done for it,” Egwuagu noted, adding that there is no federal institution in the entire local government area.
He also revealed Izombe’s past strategic importance, serving as a river route for crude oil evacuation—a role that has since been abandoned, leaving the community with neither historical compensation nor modern investment. “We are asking the government to have a rethink and do something meaningful for Izombe,” he appealed.
The community leaders did acknowledge positive internal efforts, commending their son, Rep. Eugene Dibiagwu, for sponsoring the event, and lauding the contributions of individuals like Chief Egwuagu, retired Brig.-Gen. Kalu Egwuagu, and Sir Alex Ihesie for fostering unity. This recognition serves to showcase local agency and responsible leadership amidst the challenges.
In their final appeal, the leaders called on all relevant authorities and stakeholders to recognize Izombe’s contribution to the national economy and to respond not with promises, but with concrete, actionable development projects. The case of Izombe is a microcosm of the broader Niger Delta struggle—a call for environmental justice, equitable resource distribution, and the fundamental right of host communities to share in the prosperity their land generates.
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
