Thousands of protesting youths on Monday morning stormed major roads in Kwale, the administrative headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, grounding vehicular movement and halting commercial activities in the town.
The demonstrators, expressing deep frustration over the lack of electricity in Ndokwa land for more than two decades, are demanding that the Okpai Power Plant Step-Down facility supply light to Ndokwa communities. They argue that despite the Okpai gas reserves and power installations in the area contributing significantly to the national grid, Ndokwa nation continues to languish in darkness.
The protesters, predominantly youths, have erected canopies at Ogume Junction, a strategic location along the Asaba–Kwale–Ozoro highway, effectively cutting off traffic flow between Asaba to Kwale and Kwale to Ozoro. Vehicles heading in either direction have been forced to a halt, with long queues of stranded passengers forming along the route.
A similar blockade is in place at the Technical College Junction in Kwale, where demonstrators have also mounted canopies, denying passage to vehicles traveling along the Asaba–Ughelli Road, another key transportation artery in the region.
The protest has drawn a heavy presence of military personnel and police officers, who are stationed at various points to monitor the situation. So far, there have been no reports of clashes between the protesters and security forces.
Despite the relative calm, tension is mounting in Kwale, with businesses shut down and residents expressing fear over possible escalation. All commercial activities have been brought to a standstill as the protests continue into the afternoon.
A senior police officer overseeing security operations in the area declined to comment when approached by our correspondent, instead directing inquiries to the Delta State Police Headquarters in Asaba.
The protest reflects a long-standing grievance in Ndokwa land, where residents feel marginalized and neglected, despite being host to vital energy infrastructure. Many of the demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions such as “Light Up Ndokwa Nation”, “No Light, No Peace”, and “We are tired of darkness”.
As the standoff continues, concerned residents are calling on the Delta State Government and the Federal Ministry of Power to intervene and address the demands of the protesting youths before the situation spirals out of control.
More updates to follow.
