Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has declared that the economic interests of the Urhobo people must be protected in ongoing discussions over the proposed Industrial Gas Park in Sanubi-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Dafinone, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, said he had never supported any move capable of depriving the Urhobo Nation of the economic benefits associated with the strategic industrial project.
In a statement issued amid controversy and what he described as misinformation surrounding the proposed gas park, the senator said his knowledge of the project deepened through legislative oversight activities and engagements with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
According to him, those engagements revealed challenges relating to land acquisition, ownership disputes and concerns over the proposed location of the project.
Dafinone acknowledged that the concerns were genuine, but cautioned against misrepresenting efforts to resolve them, stressing that doing so would not serve the interest of the Urhobo people.
“As the Senator representing Delta Central, my duty is to engage relevant authorities and ensure that the interests of the Urhobo Nation are protected; that is what I have done and continue to do,” he said.
The senator maintained that any decision on the future location of the Industrial Gas Park must not lead to its removal from Urhobo land.
He, however, said where legitimate technical, environmental or land-related concerns necessitate adjustments, such decisions should be reached through proper consultation while giving full consideration to the economic interests of the Urhobo people.
Dafinone said he would continue engaging the NCDMB, relevant federal authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders in a bid to resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the project.
He described the Industrial Gas Park as a major opportunity for investment, employment generation and industrial development, warning that the project should not be reduced to political propaganda or a contest over who gets credit for it.
“The overriding concern must be to protect the collective economic interest of Urhobo Nation,” he said.
Dafinone also rejected claims that his engagement on the matter was contrary to the interests of the Urhobo people, describing such portrayals as false and without basis.
He said his responsibility as the representative of Delta Central remained to defend the interests of the district and pursue opportunities capable of advancing the economic future of its people.
