Somewhere in Ondo state in Akure North Local Government Area is a community known as Igoba that made headlines in 2024 when the government constructed one of its major roads, an act that elicited commendations from its inhabitants. But somewhere in Delta State's Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area lies a counterpart community known as Igoba but which, in sharp contrast to its name's sake in Ondo, is still in an ancient state of development.

Situated in the creek, Igoba Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom is not the only community that is lacking basic infrastructures. However, for a community that is among the major settlements in the kingdom and which occupies a significant place in it, is befitting of some attention from the government and other stakeholders.

The deputy governor of Delta State, Dcn. Barr. Kingsley Otuaro; the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Warri South-West constituency, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, High Chief Dennis Otuaro Ph.D, are just some of the few prominent personalities that has origin in Igoba settlement.

At present the community has no landing jetty, no portable drinking water, no communication mast, a few modern housing structures, no walkways or concrete pavements, among other challenges. But then, the people of Igoba are not leaving their quest to development to chance. In their determination to be among other fast rising major communities in the kingdom, they took the bold step to constitute the 'Igoba Town Planning Committee' as proposed by one of its prominent leaders, Chief Anthony Ayebibode, and inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of the community, Apst. Gift Teibowei, on February 21, 2025, to spearhead its development.

Leading the committee is a former councilor, Chief Friday Bobo, with other members comprising of Mrs Endurance Uttoh (Secretary), Pst. Saint Ogo, Gen. Naiye Dude, Boan. John Oru, and Blessing Akpoko.

Led by the Igoba chairman, in company of surveyors, the committee stormed the ancient community on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to embark on a field survey with the intent to map out locations for the construction of a possible future road pavement and to put into effect an organised structure that will advance orderliness especially in the housing sector. Earlier, Ijaw national leader, High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, had few months ago mobilised a dredger to the community to dredge its shallow creeks for easier access and to provide inhabitants with sand for individual housing projects.

The vigorous exercise of the town survey saw the team comb through the community in their daunting task to accurately pinpoint the right spots ideal for the forthcoming project. Despite some hiccups such as a downpour and transport challenges, they nonetheless in determination pressed on to get the task done.

"This exercise is to map out the locations for the road according to the plan as led by the surveyors. We went round the community on Thursday instead of Wednesday because of the rain which hindered our job on arrival. But the following day we began the exercise by going round the community to achieve the purpose of our visit," said the committee chairman, Chief Bobo.

"Asides the mapping for roads, another purpose of the survey is to have decency in the area of housing so that in the future people's properties will not be impacted peradventure a road project is secured. After this stage we will give our report to the community elders and to our leaders," he added, and further revealed that the people are excited with the current development which signals a new beginning for the transformation of the community.

On other infrastructures lacking in the community's terrain such as a landing jetty, the committee chairman said the people of Igoba are still expecting interventions from the government and other stakeholders to complement the efforts of individuals toward achieving a befitting state of development for the ancient community.

Truly, the people of Igoba deserve some respite from the challenges they are constantly faced with by the lack of the needed infrastructures that has made living in a modern society quite difficult. According to the United Nations, the people of Igoba should have access to safe water and adequate shelter among other basic needs as part of their fundamental human rights that are crucial for their health, well-being, and dignity. On that note, the government and other stakeholders must prioritize the provision of basic amenities to ensure the people are not marginalized and made vulnerable.

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