%20(1).jpg)
Ughelli North, Delta State — Looking back to September 13, 2025, the message of peace, patience and collective progress echoed by Hon. Akpososo Oghenekaro (Mimikay) and the people of Afirese community and surrounding villages in Ughelli North now stands firmly justified, following the groundbreaking of the Otovwodo Flyover on January 12, 2026 by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
On that September day in 2025, community leaders and residents across Ughelli North and neighbouring local government areas had openly embraced Governor Oborevwori’s passionate appeal for unity, solidarity and calm, urging Deltans to remain patient as his administration laid the foundations for long-term development. At the time, the call resonated deeply in Afirese, where hope was high and expectations were mounting over an anticipated government response widely believed to signal a major intervention.
Today, that hope has translated into visible action.
The Otovwodo Flyover, whose construction officially commenced on January 12, 2026, has emerged as one of the most symbolic outcomes of the governor’s infrastructure-driven peace strategy. The project stands as a concrete affirmation of the assurances given in 2025—that development, though gradual, would be steady and transformative.
Back in September 2025, Hon. Akpososo Oghenekaro captured the prevailing mood when he spoke of unity forged through shared heritage and collective endurance, noting that the governor’s words had rekindled a sense of togetherness among a people long tested by neglect and conflict. That sentiment, once aspirational, is now being reinforced by bulldozers, pillars and rising concrete at Otovwodo—right in the heart of Ughelli.
Ughelli North, with its palm-fringed farmlands, vibrant markets and strategic position in Delta State, has long symbolised both promise and neglect. Years of infrastructural decay had constrained economic growth and deepened social tensions. Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Restorative Justice, and Enhanced Peace and Security—was designed to confront these challenges head-on.
The Otovwodo Flyover project, residents say, aligns perfectly with that vision. It is expected to ease traffic congestion, boost commercial activities, improve connectivity within Ughelli metropolis and strengthen the region’s role as an economic hub. For many in Afirese and neighbouring communities, the flyover represents more than concrete and steel—it is proof that patience can indeed yield progress.
In retrospect, the excitement that swept through Afirese in September 2025 over a “mysterious document” from the state government now appears prophetic. While speculation then ranged from appointments to industrial approvals, the eventual delivery of a landmark infrastructure project has surpassed expectations and validated the community’s trust in the governor’s leadership.
Residents who once pledged to take to the streets in celebration if their hopes were confirmed are already hailing the flyover as a defining milestone. Community leaders say it has strengthened confidence in the Oborevwori administration and reinforced the belief that peace-driven governance can unlock sustainable development.
As Delta State continues on its development trajectory, the September 13, 2025 call for patience and unity now reads as a turning point—one that set the tone for tangible achievements like the Otovwodo Flyover, and one that continues to shape public perception of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a leader committed to delivering promises that resonate at the grassroots.