MORE or LESS? YNRO Activist Challenges Delta Government Over Employment, Industrial Revival

Delta State’s ‘MORE Agenda’ Under Fire as Activists Question N3.15 Trillion Spending on Job Creation

Activists demand accountability as youth turn to Okada, Keke, and betting for survival despite massive state revenue.

By Our Reporter

Three years into Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, the “MORE Agenda” is facing a critical test of credibility. A prominent civil society group is demanding answers on how the Delta State government has spent an estimated N3.15 trillion in revenue, questioning whether the vision of “MORE Opportunities” has quietly morphed into a “LESS Agenda” for ordinary citizens.

Comrade Victor Ojei, lead activist of the Young Nigerian Rights Organization, has published a detailed open letter to Deltans, challenging the administration to provide evidence of industrial revival despite receiving hefty allocations from FAAC, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and the 13% derivation fund from May 2023 to June 2026.

“How can a state blessed with enormous oil wealth have no industries to show for it?” Ojei asked.

According to the activist, despite the “significant resources” flowing into the state, there is a glaring absence of manufacturing activity. He pointed to historical giants like the Asaba Textile Mill, Sapele Wood Industry, Ughelli Glass, and the Delta Steel Company Limited (DSC) —questioning how many of these moribund assets have been revived to employ thousands.

The government has pointed to recent developments as evidence of progress. According to reports, Governor Oborevwori recently performed the groundbreaking for the Kwale Industrial Free Trade Zone, a project linked to the completion of the Asaba–Ughelli Expressway and designed to create an investment-friendly corridor connecting Warri Port and Onitsha. Officials have touted this as a move toward sustainable manufacturing and economic transformation under the “MORE Agenda”.

However, activists argue that such long-term plans do little to address the current reality for many youth who have turned to what they sarcastically call “Group of Companies”—including Okada riders, Keke Napep operators, Naira Bet/Bet9JA ventures, Wheelbarrow pushers, and graduates now working as POS operators.

“These honest hustles deserve respect, but should they be the dream of a state blessed with enormous resources?” Ojei asked. “Deltans deserve industries, sustainable jobs, economic growth, and a future where graduates are employed because factories are working.”

The activist insisted that the critique is not born of hatred but of a demand for accountability, stressing that better governance begins when leaders listen to the voices of the people.

As of press time, the Delta State Government had not issued an official response to the specific questions raised regarding the N3.15 trillion expenditure and industrial revival.