Agbolayah Urges Community Leaders to Safeguard Public Facilities

 














By Wilson Macaulay


Ambassador Dr. Toyin Agbolayah, JP, Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Community Development, has charged community leaders across the state to take greater responsibility and ownership in the protection of public and government facilities within their domains.


Agbolayah made the call on Thursday, December 18, 2025, during a two-day workshop organised by Hon. Emakpor Odogu, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Community Development. The workshop, themed “Protection of Government Facilities: The Role of Community Leaders,” was held at the Council Secretariat of Isoko South Local Government Area, Oleh.


Represented at the event by Hon. Comrade Francis Obule, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Agbolayah stressed that communities must enact and enforce local laws to safeguard public infrastructure, noting that host communities are the primary beneficiaries of such facilities.


In his goodwill message, Obule commended Hon. Odogu for what he described as a laudable initiative aimed at strengthening community participation in governance. He urged local government chairmen to support communities by providing day and night security personnel to assist in protecting public assets.


He also warned against the misuse of government facilities for private purposes, insisting that strict regulations must be enforced to curb abuse and vandalism. According to him, effective protection of public facilities aligns with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda, which prioritises sustainable development and good governance.


Obule thanked participants and community leaders for their active engagement and encouraged other government appointees to emulate Hon. Odogu’s commitment to grassroots development.


One of the guest speakers, Prof. Chris Akpotu, spoke on the roles and responsibilities of community leaders in safeguarding government facilities. He identified intelligence gathering and early warning systems, conflict resolution and mediation, community mobilisation and sensitisation, promotion of ownership culture, and effective government–community partnerships as critical responsibilities. He also emphasised the need for constant monitoring and reporting of suspicious activities around public facilities.

Also speaking, Chief Dr. Jimoh Eshanake, the Unuevworo of Ohorhe in Uvwie Kingdom and a lecturer at the College of Education, Warri, gave an overview of government facilities in Delta State and their importance. He listed key public assets to include state and local government secretariats, courts, police stations, civil defence and fire service facilities, roads, water supply systems and electricity infrastructure. He noted that these facilities are vital for service delivery, job creation, investment attraction, and the maintenance of law and order, but lamented widespread vandalism due to weak community ownership.

A security expert, Mr. Alex Sanco, who spoke on identifying and mitigating security risks to government facilities in Isoko Nation, highlighted threats such as kidnapping, community clashes, armed robbery, cybercrime and vandalism. He said these risks could be mitigated through trained community leadership, youth engagement, effective information sharing with security agencies, and the development of local security strategies.

Sanco identified key qualities of effective community leaders to include empathy, integrity, effective communication skills, visionary thinking, collaboration, passion and a strong commitment to community development.

In his remarks, Hon. Emakpor Odogu, organiser of the workshop, expressed appreciation to the facilitators, resource persons, participants and community leaders for their dedication to the protection of government facilities. He also thanked development partners and invited guests for their support and collaboration.

Odogu expressed optimism that the knowledge and strategies gained from the workshop would be effectively implemented to safeguard public assets and promote socio-economic development across Delta State.

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