Comrade Nelson Ubi, the Deputy State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Delta State Chapter, has written an open letter to the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, raising alarm over the continued illegal collection of development levies, popularly known as “deveh,” by community leaders across the state.
In the letter, Ubi accused several communities of openly defying the Delta State Government’s ban on illegal development levies, despite repeated public warnings that offenders risk prosecution and jail terms. He described the practice as widespread extortion that targets landowners and investors seeking to build, fence, or develop legally acquired land.
According to the TIB leader, communities including Ugbomoro, Okuokoko, Agbarho, and others have continued to enforce deveh payments through intimidation, harassment of workers, and forceful stoppage of construction activities. He singled out Ugbomoro community as a hotspot where aggressive deveh collection has reportedly discouraged investors and created an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness.
Ubi warned that the unchecked actions of some community leaders undermine the authority of the Delta State Government, weaken the rule of law, and damage the state’s investment climate. He called on Governor Oborevwori to immediately set up a special enforcement and investigative task force to clamp down on illegal levy collectors and ensure the prosecution of offenders.
The letter also demanded protection for landowners and investors who report illegal deveh practices, stressing that Delta State cannot achieve genuine development while extortion thrives at the community level. He urged the government to move beyond public warnings and enforce the ban on deveh decisively on the ground.
Comrade Ubi said the letter was written out of concern for justice, order, and sustainable development in Delta State, insisting that the continued illegality must stop if the state is serious about growth and good governance.
SEE THE LETTER BELOW:
An Open Letter to the Executive Governor of Delta State,
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori
Exposing the Continued Illegal Collection of Deveh by Community Leaders in Delta State
Your Excellency,
I write this open letter as a concerned Deltan, a landowner, and an advocate for fairness, investment, and the rule of law in our state. This letter is necessary because despite the clear position of the Delta State Government banning the collection of development levies popularly called “deveh,” many community leaders across Delta State continue to openly defy this directive, extort landowners and investors, and operate with impunity.
Your government has made it clear, both in words and in public warnings, that the collection of illegal development levies by community leaders is unlawful and punishable. This position has been reported by credible national media and communicated to the public. Yet, on the ground, the reality is very different.
In communities such as Ugbomoro, Okuokoko, Agbarho, and several others across Delta State, landowners and investors are still being forced to pay deveh before they are allowed to build, fence their land, or carry out any form of development. In many cases, when landowners cite the ban by the Delta State Government, they are threatened, intimidated, or their workers are chased away from sites. Some communities go as far as forcibly stopping construction work, locking sites, or harassing artisans and engineers until illegal payments are made.
One community that has become notoriously associated with chronic and aggressive deveh collection is Ugbomoro community. The activities of some community leaders there have discouraged genuine investors, frustrated small landowners, and created an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness. This is not only damaging to individuals but also harmful to the image and economic growth of Delta State as a whole.
Your Excellency, this situation directly undermines your authority and the authority of the Delta State Government. When community leaders can openly disregard a government ban and still get away with it, it sends a dangerous message that the law is optional and that extortion is tolerated. It also scares away investors who would otherwise bring development, jobs, and revenue into our communities.
I therefore call on you, as the Chief Executive of Delta State, to act decisively and immediately. I urge you to set up a special enforcement and investigative team to clamp down on all community leaders and groups that are still collecting illegal land levies under any guise. This team should work with relevant security agencies to identify offenders, stop ongoing extortion, and prosecute those who continue to violate the law.
Furthermore, landowners and investors who report these illegal practices must be protected. It is unacceptable that citizens who rely on government directives are punished by community leaders through threats, intimidation, and work stoppages. The state must make it clear that no community, no title holder, and no group is above the law.
Delta State cannot genuinely develop when illegal levies are allowed to thrive. The ban on deveh must move from newspaper reports to real enforcement on the ground. Anything short of this will continue to empower extortionists and weaken public trust in governance.
I write this letter not out of hatred for any community, but out of love for Delta State and a deep concern for justice, order, and sustainable development. This madness must stop, and it can only stop when the government enforces its own laws without fear or favor.
Yours sincerely,
Comrade Nelson Ubi
Reference – Official Government Warning:
Community leaders risk jail term for illegal development levies – Delta Govt
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/09/community-leaders-risk-jail-term-for-illegal-devt-levies-delta-govt/
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