Eradiri Faults Donald Duke Over Niger Delta Terrain

The Media Director of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) in Bayelsa State, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has challenged former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, over his comments on the difficulty of building infrastructure in the Niger Delta, arguing that the region’s riverine and swampy terrain can be overcome through engineering, adequate funding and sustained government commitment.

Eradiri, a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and ongoing road projects in Bayelsa State as examples of infrastructure development in challenging environments.

He said he had participated in the initial clearing and sand-filling work on the coastal highway along the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that similar engineering approaches could be applied to the Niger Delta.

“All over the world, engineering backed with serious governance has conquered terrains worse than the ones in the Niger Delta to build critical infrastructure. We cannot see why the Niger Delta case should be different,” he said.

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Eradiri argued that difficult terrain should not automatically prevent infrastructure projects but should instead require appropriate engineering methods, careful planning and sufficient investment.

He cited road construction towards Brass and Agge in Bayelsa State as examples of efforts to improve access to communities separated by creeks, rivers and wetlands.

He also pointed to the federal government’s reported intervention in efforts to extend road infrastructure towards Brass, saying such projects could improve transportation and create better connections between rural communities and economic centres.

“Bayelsa State can be developed. Right now, if you see what is happening in the state as a result of the increase in allocations to states under President Bola Tinubu’s government because of his courage to remove fuel subsidy, you will understand that the terrain is not an excuse for underdevelopment,” he said.

Eradiri attributed some of the ongoing infrastructure development in Bayelsa to increased revenue allocations to state governments following the removal of the fuel subsidy. He maintained that sustained funding and political commitment were necessary to address the region’s longstanding infrastructure gaps.

He also cited the road connection to Bonny Island and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as examples of projects he believes demonstrate the possibility of constructing infrastructure across difficult terrain.

“How did Tinubu complete a road to Bonny? He did it because of political will. How is Tinubu building the coastal road? He is doing it because he has the political will; the will that the likes of Donald Duke do not have, yet they want people to vote for them,” Eradiri said.

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The TSG media director criticised Duke’s position, saying the former governor did not adequately appreciate the progress being made to address infrastructure challenges in the Niger Delta.

“I want to state categorically that the former Governor Donald Duke lacks understanding about the terrain in the Niger Delta.

“It is obvious that while sitting as the governor of one of the Niger Delta states, Donald Duke failed to relate properly with his colleagues to this point where he went on national television to embarrass himself about how his colleagues were tackling the terrain to develop their states.”

Eradiri said visits to communities where road projects are underway would provide a clearer picture of the engineering challenges and the efforts being made to improve access.

He also referred to infrastructure development in Vietnam and California, arguing that experience from other parts of the world showed that difficult geographical conditions could be managed with suitable engineering and effective governance.

“I have been to Vietnam, and I have seen how leaders have transformed their riverine and swampy terrains. If it can be done in Vietnam, California and other difficult terrains, why should a leader from the Niger Delta seeking votes to become president say it cannot be done in the Niger Delta?” he asked.

While defending the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure record, Eradiri accused Duke of using the region’s development challenges to criticise the President.

“Duke is trying to whip up sentiment against President Tinubu to deceive voters, but unfortunately for him, the voters know better,” he said.

He added that the debate over the Niger Delta’s terrain should focus on practical ways to deliver infrastructure rather than treating geographical challenges as insurmountable barriers.