2025: Delta Govt under fire as IPF demands transparency on N979B budget

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has criticized the Delta State government for allegedly making false promises to the Ijaw riverine communities. The government had claimed that the 2025 budget of N979 billion included massive projects for these communities ¹.

According to Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Director General on Orientation and Communication, the budget captures improved rural and riverine mega roads, as well as other infrastructural projects. 

However, the IPF has challenged the government to provide evidence of these projects, stating that the communities have been victims of "beautiful lies" and "audio projects" in the past.

The IPF also questioned the government's claim of empowering over 250,000 entrepreneurs through the D-CARES program, demanding to know the names of the beneficiaries and the locations of the projects.

Key demands of the IPF are as follows:

"Publish names of projects allocated for Delta Ijaw riverine communities per local government area.

"Disclose money allocated for the Ayakoromo bridge project in the 2025 N979 billion approved budget_

"Reveal names of entrepreneurs and amount of materials or money given to those who benefited from the Ijaw riverine communities," statement added.

The IPF has accused the government of using propaganda to boost the image of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, while the Ijaw communities continue to suffer from lack of development.