The Orodje of Okpe Land, His Royal Majesty, Retired Major General Felix Mujakperuo on Monday led a high-powered delegation from Okpe Kingdom in Delta State, on a visit to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to press for immediate federal action on the escalating environmental catastrophe ravaging Ugbokodo community in Okpe Local Government Area.
Speaking during the visit, His Royal Majesty, Retired Major General Mujakperu sopotlighted the perennial woes of coastal erosion, shoreline encroachment, recurrent flooding, and widespread ecological degradation that have left the oil-rich host community in dire straits, threatening the very existence of its people.
He said that Ugbokodo, a key contributor to Nigeria’s oil wealth over the decades, has borne the heavy burden of environmental neglect, with homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure repeatedly destroyed by rising waters and relentless erosion.
In a passionate presentation to the SGF, the revered monarch underscored the existential threat posed by the ongoing devastation and appealed for urgent deployment of sustainable shoreline protection measures, land reclamation efforts, and broader environmental safeguards under federal coastal management programmes.
“The continuous erosion and rising water levels are no longer tolerable; they pose a clear and present danger to lives, livelihoods, and the future of Ugbokodo. We urge the Federal Government to prioritise this community in its ecological intervention agenda,” the Orodje declared.
Responding, Senator Akume hailed the Orodje’s illustrious career in the military and his exemplary traditional leadership, as well as his unwavering dedication to his subjects’ welfare.
The SGF assured the delegation that the Federal Government was not turning a blind eye to Ugbokodo or similar communities plagued by environmental challenges.
“These issues are of grave national importance and will receive the serious attention they deserve at the highest levels,” Akume stated, pledging a thorough review aimed at concrete interventions, particularly in shoreline protection and sustainable environmental practices.
He reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s resolve to support oil-producing communities and drive sustainable development nationwide.
The delegation included Hon. Benedict Etanabene, member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Chief Clifford Kpikpini; Chief Napoleon Akpobecha; Chief Bright Igbako; Chief Engr. J.O. Ebireri; and other prominent Okpe leaders.
The high-level engagement is part of a renewed push by Okpe Kingdom’s leadership for environmental justice, ecological restoration, and long-term solutions to the plight of host communities in Delta State.
