Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, has said his position on the proposed Industrial Gas Park in Sanubi-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, is clear, insisting that the economic interests of the Urhobo people must be protected.
Dafinone made the clarification while reacting to what he described as controversy and misinformation surrounding the proposed industrial project.
The senator, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, said he became more directly involved with the project through legislative oversight activities and engagements with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
According to him, those engagements exposed a number of challenges associated with the project, including issues relating to land acquisition, ownership disputes and concerns over the proposed location.
Dafinone maintained that the challenges surrounding the project were real and should be addressed through proper consultation rather than being ignored or misrepresented.
He stressed that his intervention was driven by his responsibility as the Senator representing Delta Central to engage relevant authorities and ensure that the interests of the Urhobo Nation were adequately protected.
The senator said he had never supported and would not support any action capable of depriving the Urhobo people of the economic benefits associated with the proposed Industrial Gas Park.
Dafinone explained that any decision regarding the future location of the project should not result in its removal from Urhobo land.
He, however, acknowledged that legitimate technical, environmental or land-related concerns could require adjustments to aspects of the project, stressing that any such decision must be reached through appropriate consultation and with due consideration for the economic interests of the Urhobo people.
He said he would continue engaging the NCDMB, relevant federal government authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the project.
According to Dafinone, the Industrial Gas Park presents a significant opportunity for investment, employment creation and industrial development, making it important for stakeholders to approach the matter with the long-term economic interests of the people in mind.
He cautioned against reducing the issue to political propaganda or a contest over which individual or group should receive credit for the project.
The senator said the primary consideration should be how to protect and maximise the collective economic benefits that the project could bring to the Urhobo Nation and Delta State.
Dafinone also rejected suggestions that his engagement with relevant authorities on the project was contrary to the interests of the Urhobo people.
He described such portrayals as false and without basis, maintaining that his actions were consistent with his responsibility to represent and defend the interests of Delta Central Senatorial District.
He said his record and responsibility remained focused on protecting the interests of the people of Delta Central while pursuing opportunities capable of contributing to the economic development and future prosperity of the region.
The senator's clarification comes amid discussions over the proposed location and other issues surrounding the Industrial Gas Park, with land ownership, acquisition and technical considerations emerging as key areas requiring resolution.
Dafinone reiterated that while legitimate concerns should be properly addressed, such processes should not undermine the broader economic interests of the Urhobo people.
He therefore called for continued engagement among federal authorities, the NCDMB, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to achieve a responsible resolution that would preserve the investment opportunity while addressing outstanding concerns.
The senator's position underscores his insistence that the proposed industrial project should be handled in a manner that protects the economic interests of the Urhobo Nation while allowing legitimate technical, environmental and land-related matters to be resolved through due process.
