2027: On Arise TV, Akwara Advocates Split of Ngor Okpala into Three Councils
By Genesis Ogiri
ABUJA — Federal House of Representatives hopeful for Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Barr. Patrice Eberechukwu Akwara, has renewed calls for the creation of three additional local councils from the present Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, insisting that decentralizing governance remains essential to effective grassroots development and equitable distribution of democratic dividends.
Speaking as a guest on Arise TV, the legal practitioner and emerging political voice described Ngor Okpala as one of the largest local government areas in Nigeria in terms of population and landmass, arguing that the existing administrative structure can no longer adequately address the developmental needs of the people.
According to Barr. Akwara, the continued concentration of governance within a single local government system has created administrative bottlenecks, slowed infrastructure expansion, and weakened the reach of government presence across rural communities.
“The people will not experience modern civilization such as infrastructure development when governance remains over-concentrated. Ngor Okpala is one of the largest local governments in the country with a massive population and vast landmass, yet it has remained under the same centralized structure since the colonial era,” he stated during the television interview.
He further lamented that despite statutory allocations accruing to the local government over the years, the sheer demographic and territorial realities of Ngor Okpala have made it difficult for available resources to effectively cater to the needs of the people.
Barr. Akwara maintained that several communities within the area still struggle with inadequate road networks, poor healthcare delivery, insufficient educational infrastructure, limited potable water supply, and other basic social amenities expected in modern governance systems.
“When governance is concentrated at the center with such a huge population, administration becomes increasingly complex. Many citizens begin to feel marginalized because the dividends of democracy are not adequately felt at the grassroots,” he added.
The federal lawmaker hopeful emphasized that the proposed splitting of Ngor Okpala into three local councils would bring governance closer to the people, improve administrative efficiency, deepen political inclusion, and accelerate socioeconomic development across the constituency.
He assured residents that proponents of the initiative have already satisfied the constitutional requirements necessary for the creation of the proposed councils, expressing optimism that the process has continued to gain momentum through broad stakeholder support.
According to him, a recent strategic meeting convened by the Chairman of the Ngor Traditional Council brought together critical stakeholders, community leaders, political actors, and prominent sons and daughters of Ngor Okpala, including indigenes resident in the United States of America, all of whom endorsed the proposal for additional local councils.
“We have met the constitutional requirements for the creation of the three local councils. The recent meeting held with the Chairman of the Ngor Traditional Council, alongside stakeholders and prominent personalities from Ngor Okpala, including our people in America, showed overwhelming support for this initiative,” Akwara stated.
He disclosed that excitement and optimism characterized the series of consultations held across communities, noting that many residents consider the proposal a pathway toward accelerated development, improved representation, and expanded access to government services.
“Everybody was excited during the several meetings we held because the people understand that this is about bringing governance closer to them and ensuring that development gets to every community,” he said.
Barr. Akwara concluded by reiterating that the agitation for additional local councils is fundamentally driven by the urgent need to strengthen grassroots governance, improve infrastructure penetration, and ensure that the people of Ngor Okpala begin to fully enjoy the dividends of democracy and modern development.
