Prominent Delta Cleric Urges President Tinubu to Revive Ailing State Seaports to Fulfill Campaign Mandate and Curb Youth Unemployment

Bishop Okijenu calls on President Tinubu to fulfill 2023 campaign promises by revitalizing Delta State's seaports to boost the economy. Read the full report.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent Newspaper Nigeria

A Call for Federal Accountability in the Niger Delta

Bishop Ajokpaoghene Okijenu, the General Overseer of Praise God Revival Ministry, has issued a formal appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to breathe new life into the defunct and struggling seaports across Delta State. Speaking from Effurun in the Uvwie Local Government Area, the cleric reminded the President of the specific commitments made during the 2023 electoral campaign regarding the economic upliftment of the region. Bishop Okijenu argued that the revival of these ports is not merely a regional request but a national economic imperative that would significantly bolster Nigeria’s maritime revenue and maritime reach.

The Human Cost of Port Stagnation

Central to the Bishop’s plea is the urgent need for job creation in a region that remains the heartbeat of Nigeria’s oil industry yet continues to grapple with systemic underdevelopment. He lamented the "ailing" state of current maritime infrastructure, noting that the decay of the ports has left thousands of skilled and unskilled youths without meaningful employment. By repositioning these critical assets, the Bishop suggests that the Federal Government can effectively channel the energy of the state's youth into productive ventures, thereby reducing the social tensions often associated with economic marginalization in the Niger Delta.

Synergy Between State and Federal Governance

While calling for federal intervention, Bishop Okijenu took a moment to commend the developmental efforts of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. He noted that the Governor has made visible impacts across the state’s three Senatorial Districts but emphasized that state-level progress is limited without federal support for major infrastructure like seaports. The cleric urged top personalities and community leaders within Delta to align their influence with the Governor’s vision, stressing that the responsibility for the state’s recovery should be a collective effort rather than resting solely on the shoulders of the executive.