Thousands of youths in Kwale, the administrative center of Ndokwa West Local Government Area in Delta State, took to the streets early Monday morning to protest the persistent lack of electricity in their communities. The large-scale demonstration disrupted vehicular movement and halted commercial activities across the town.
The protesters, visibly frustrated, called for an immediate power supply from the Okpai Power Plant Step-Down facility to serve Ndokwa land. They emphasized the irony of hosting significant gas reserves and power infrastructure that contribute to the national grid while their communities remain in darkness for over five years.
“We cannot continue to live like this while our resources power the nation,” declared one protester. “Okpai supplies the national grid, yet we, the hosts, live in darkness. Enough is enough!”
Protesters set up large canopies at Ogume Junction, a key point along the Asaba–Kwale–Ozoro highway, blocking traffic between Asaba, Kwale, and Ozoro. This resulted in long queues of stranded vehicles and frustrated passengers.
Another protest site was established at the Technical College Junction in Kwale, shutting down the Asaba–Ughelli Road, another vital regional route. The protests led to a heavy security presence, with soldiers and police deployed to strategic locations to monitor the situation.
As of the report, no violent clashes had occurred, but tensions remain high. Shops are closed, and businesses are paralyzed as residents worry about potential escalation.
A senior police officer at the scene declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Delta State Police Command in Asaba.
The protest highlights deep-seated feelings of marginalization in Ndokwa land, a resource-rich area lacking basic infrastructure. Demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as “Light Up Ndokwa Nation,” “We Are Tired of Darkness,” and “No Light, No Peace.”
Residents are appealing to both the Delta State Government and the Federal Ministry of Power to urgently address their demands to prevent further unrest.
