Hundreds of protesters from Ndokwa Nation on Wednesday barricaded the entrance to the Delta State Government House for about an hour, demanding an end to what they described as more than two decades of crippling electricity blackout across their communities.

The demonstrators, made up of women, youths, community leaders and traditional masquerades, converged on the seat of government in Asaba carrying old lanterns and worn-out lamps as symbols of their prolonged hardship.

They displayed placards bearing sharp messages such as “Governor Sheriff, No Light No Vote,” “20 Years of Darkness,” “We Are Suffering,” “Over 150 Ndokwa Communities in Darkness for Over 20 Years,” and “Oil Everywhere, Light Nowhere.”

The protest underscored growing anger in the oil-rich Ndokwa area, where residents say the paradox of producing enormous energy resources while living without electricity has become unbearable.

Leading the peaceful demonstration, President General of Ndokwa Nation, Comrade Nkem Stanley Adoh, accused successive governments of neglecting the region and failing to address a crisis that has stunted economic growth and worsened poverty.

He said for more than 20 years, families in Ndokwa had been denied access to a basic necessity that many Nigerians consider routine.

According to him, students are forced to study by candlelight, while small businesses that should create jobs and support livelihoods have collapsed under the weight of high generator costs and unreliable alternatives.

He added that hospitals and clinics in the area struggle to function effectively when electricity-dependent equipment fails, placing lives at risk.

“This is not just an inconvenience; it is a wound on the development and dignity of our communities,” Adoh declared.

In a strongly worded address, the protesters said the prolonged blackout was no longer a technical problem but a failure of policy, governance and implementation.

They demanded a clear, time-bound action plan from the state government detailing what would be done, who would execute it, the projected cost, and when electricity would be restored to all affected communities.

The group also called for an immediate independent technical audit of power infrastructure in Ndokwa, alongside emergency interventions such as generator support, community charging centres and backup electricity for health facilities pending permanent solutions.

Observers say the protest reflects mounting frustration in a region that hosts several oil and gas assets yet remains underdeveloped.

They lamented that communities surrounded by energy wealth continue to live in darkness.

Responding to the protest, governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration was committed to electrifying the state and had already commenced processes required by the Transmission Company of Nigeria regulatory framework to make expanded electricity supply possible.

Represented by Chief of Staff Johnson Erijo, the governor said the Ndokwa generating point had the capacity to supply power to the entire state, with additional support expected from Ughelli and Ogorode facilities.

He assured the protesters that Ndokwa communities would soon be connected, adding that consultants had been engaged to complete the technical and regulatory groundwork needed to restore power.