Udu Chairman Rejects Attempt to Declare DSC Township a Community

The Chairman of Udu Local Government Area in Delta State, Hon. Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode, has dismissed moves to recognise DSC Township as an independent community, insisting the area remains part of Udu ancestral land.

Speaking at the Udu Council Secretariat in Otor-Udu on Tuesday, July 8, during a courtesy visit by Engr. John Uviejitobor, President of Orhuwhorun Community, Oyibode stated emphatically that the Delta Steel Company (DSC) Township, originally built to accommodate DSC staff, cannot suddenly transform into a recognised community.

“I cannot and will not recognise DSC Township as a community. It will not happen not under my leadership,” he said.

His comments come amid reports of an alleged court ruling favouring the township’s status change.

He explained that the township was originally developed to house workers of the now-defunct Delta Steel Company (DSC), but warned that recent efforts by residents to claim community status lack both legal and cultural legitimacy and will be resisted even after his tenure.

“People were allocated sectors for residential purposes, not for community formation. You cannot build on someone else’s land and start claiming it as your own,” he added.

The Udu Chairman emphasised that community recognition must follow proper customary channels and cannot be manufactured through settlement or wealth.

“A family cannot just declare itself a community. There are processes, history, and host structures that must be respected,” he noted.

In his response, Engr. Uviejitobor commended Chairman Oyibode for his unwavering stance and commitment to safeguarding the heritage and ancestral rights of the Udu people.