The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Friday Ovoke Warri, has intervened in the protracted electricity crisis ravaging Isoko nation.
The Isoko people had in April, 2026 during a protest vowed to block political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections unless a lasting solution was provided to the region’s protracted electricity crisis.
The youths took to the streets of Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, and marched through surrounding communities in a peaceful protest, carrying bold placards with inscriptions such as “Isoko Needs Light, No Light No Campaign,” they accused politicians and wealthy individuals of ignoring the community’s long-standing power challenges.
The demonstrators demanded an end to the blackout that has plagued oil-producing communities for years, insisting that the Isoko nation, despite being a major contributor to Nigeria’s treasury, has faced severe marginalisation. They called for the immediate completion of the abandoned Ozoro 132/33KVA substation project substation by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) to ensure 24-hour electricity supply.
The protest drew participation from youths, women and residents across Isoko South and Isoko North, including communities such as Irri, Emede, Ozoro, Ellu, Ofagbe, Olomoro, Emevor, and Iyede.
Meanwhile, in a significant intervention towards resolving the ongoing issue of protracted electricity crisis in the region, the council chairman Wednesday convened a high-level strategic meeting with the management team of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in his office in Oleh to explore enduring solutions to the deteriorating electricity situation in Isoko nation.
According to Warri, the meeting was apt as a pathway to finding lasting solutions to the challenges of abysmal electric power supply in the area, asserting that no meaningful investment and development can take place with the poor power supply, noting that the local government is strategic, being a host local government to several multinational oil companies in Nigeria.
Warri asserted that the power supply has been largely monopolized due to the lack of alternative power solutions, assuring that his administration was committed to providing support to enhance the effective service delivery of BEDC in the locality.
Warri, detailed how vandals damaged the high-tension line between Igbide and Olomoro, a situation repaired by the council under his leadership just days before the burial ceremony of the late Gen. Paul Omu in Igbide. “It would be shameful if a man who played a pivotal role in connecting the Isoko nation to the national grid during his active service was disconnected from the national grid on the day of his final rest.”, the council boss lamented.
The council boss, however vowed to foster collaboration between his office and the service provider, emphasizing that electricity is a vital element in the effective governance of the Renewed Hope For More Agenda initiative spearheaded by the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, adding that “As partners in progress, we must work together to make a tangible impact and enhance our public service delivery, particularly given the current inadequate electricity supply.”
In his remarks, the regional head of BEDC’s Warri region, Curtis Nwadei, explained that the national grid’s supply falls short nationwide, stating that, “The availability of light is directly determined by what comes from the national grid. The completion of the Ozoro 132/33kV electricity substation is designed to stabilize available power, not increase the overall supply from the national grid. The Ozoro substation is a crucial transmission project intended to stabilize the power supply to the Isoko Nation.”
At the end of the meeting, a committee was set up and led by the Secretary of the Isoko South Local Government Council with BEDC staff and the council’s technical department as members.
