By Onomiguren Agbamu
The senatorial candidate for Delta North, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has pledged to harness the abundant natural gas resources in Ndokwa Nation to drive economic transformation, improve electricity supply, attract investment and create employment opportunities.
Ochei made the pledge during an interactive town hall meeting with stakeholders and residents from the 37 clans of Ndokwa Nation. He lamented that the area had continued to experience inadequate development despite decades of oil and gas exploration and production.
He said Ndokwa Nation must move beyond the extraction of natural resources to maximising their economic value through gas utilisation, electricity generation, industrialisation and local economic development.
Ochei described gas flaring as a significant waste of resources, noting that the gas could instead be converted into electricity to support industrial activities, stimulate businesses and create jobs.
He questioned why communities blessed with abundant natural gas deposits should continue to experience inadequate electricity supply when these resources could provide the foundation for a sustainable energy economy.
“How can you have gas and you cannot power the whole of the nation? How can you have it in such abundance and still live in darkness?” he asked.
As part of his proposed economic development agenda, Ochei advocated the establishment of additional Independent Power Plants (IPPs) across Ndokwa Nation to improve electricity supply and create an enabling environment for industrial investment.
He explained that reliable electricity would attract manufacturers, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote industrial activities and expand employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
He also identified the establishment of industrial parks as a key component of his development agenda, noting that access to dependable electricity would encourage businesses and industries to establish operations in the area.
While acknowledging the proposed electricity step-down project at Okpia as a positive development, he maintained that additional investments in energy infrastructure would be necessary to unlock the region’s full economic potential.
Ochei stressed that Ndokwa Nation must transition from being primarily a hub for natural resource extraction to becoming a centre for gas processing, manufacturing, electricity generation and industrial production.
He pledged that, if elected to the Senate, his legislative agenda would prioritise host community benefits, gas development, electricity generation and increased participation of indigenous people in the oil and gas industry.
Reflecting on his political experience, the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly highlighted his 12 years in the legislature, saying the experience had equipped him with a sound understanding of legislative processes and the developmental challenges confronting the state.
He described his vision for Ndokwa Nation as being anchored on three principles: character, competence and capacity.
He added that the region’s natural resources could become major drivers of sustainable economic growth through effective representation, strategic partnerships and appropriate legislative interventions.
Ochei reiterated his commitment to providing effective representation for Ndokwa Nation at the National Assembly, particularly on issues relating to oil and gas, energy development and the economic interests of the people.
Ndokwa Neku Union President General Demands Accountability from Political Candidates
Earlier, the President General of the Ndokwa Neku Union, Chief Amechi Asugwuni, said the interactive session was organised as a follow-up to the town hall meeting held in August, which established a framework for sustained engagement between political candidates and the people of Ndokwa Nation.
Asugwuni said the earlier meeting had reaffirmed the principle that the voices and votes of the people must remain supreme in the democratic process.
He explained that the interactive platform was designed to promote issue-based discussions, constructive engagement and direct conversations between political candidates and the electorate.
According to him, the meeting was not intended to provide a platform for political confrontation or partisan exchanges but to enable candidates to present their programmes and explain how their proposed policies would address the developmental needs of Ndokwa Nation.
He disclosed that the platform had been made available to candidates of the NDC to present their visions and outline their plans for the region.
He added that the engagement would also provide an opportunity for Ndokwa sons and daughters to contribute through questions, observations, suggestions and constructive recommendations, ensuring that diverse community perspectives were reflected in the region’s development priorities.
Emphasising the importance of accountability in public office, the President General urged political candidates to recognise accountability as a fundamental responsibility of leadership and a demonstration of respect for the electorate.
He maintained that the people of Ndokwa Nation would hold whoever eventually emerged victorious accountable for translating campaign promises into measurable development outcomes.
Asugwuni further stressed that political candidates must take responsibility for articulating their proposed programmes rather than expecting the electorate to determine their priorities for them.
He said the relationship between elected representatives and their constituents must be founded on mutual respect, clearly defined commitments and demonstrable performance.
The President General reaffirmed the union’s commitment to maintaining an open and inclusive platform where political candidates could engage directly with the people, while residents would have the opportunity to scrutinise their proposals, ask questions and demand accountability.
Other candidates who spoke at the interactive meeting included Ogochukwu Nwokolo, a House of Representatives candidate, and other candidates seeking election to the Delta State House of Assembly.
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