Fregene laments infrastructural deficit in Bateren, seeks intervention of NDDC, DESOPADEC

A pioneer member of Delta State House of Assembly, DTHA, Hon. (Dr.) Patrick Fregene, has lamented the infrastructural deficit in Bateren Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, calling on interventionist agencies such as Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to address the seeming neglect of the community.

Hon. Fregene, who bagged a Ph.D in International Relations, from the prestigious University of Benin, Edo State, identified inadequate housing, roads, transportation, supply food chain, jetties, clean environment and clean water, as some of the infrastructural deficit militating against the growth and sustainability of Bateren.

Fresh Angle International, understands that the former lawmaker, spoke during the maiden Prince ‘Omateye’ day held at Bateren, Friday December 27, 2024.

Dr. Fregene, averred: “Here in Bateren, we have deficit in housing. We should all heed the call to either build our personal houses in our home town or attract intervention agencies such as the State and Federal Governments, DESOPADEC, NDDC, and others to come to our aid in that regard. The aforementioned agencies have not made their mark well enough in Bateren.

“The few houses the NDDC constructed in Bateren are grossly inadequate as they do not match the quantum of oil Bateren produces. The civic center/town hall being constructed by DESOPADEC is at a standstill. Why is the project not completed and commissioned till now? We need to know. Again NDDC has not made its mark in Bateren as it does in other communities.”

Whilst revealing: “Bateren is a community founded by Prince Omateye Akengbuwa, and the senior male of the pristine Ugogomaru Royal House and the surviving crown prince before the passage of his father, in about the mid 18th century”, Dr. Fregene, stated: “During the period of the interregnum in Warri kingdom, prominent Itsekiri nobles and princes were involved in the administration of Itsekiri nation. At different times, Okorodosu, Fregene, Etchie, and later Ekwejunor, served as Chiefs-representatives of the Olu during the governorship of Diare and others up to Dore Numa.

“Bateren is also home to the harem and retinue of nobles, head slaves and servants. In the time of Prince Omateye, royal meetings the Ugogomaru family and beyond hold in Bateren. In memory of which, a town hall named after Prince Omateye exists in commemoration. Major decisions affecting Itsekiri are also taken there.

“Bateren has also played the political role of administrative head of the area now known as Orere ward, in the first republic under the western Region government.

“Today, Orere ward, which is the successor in political area of the old Bateren District Authority, is presently under the headquarter of Orere, a place not known to be an ancestral home to anyone.

“The ongoing construction of road and drainage to connect Utuoyibo quarters to Omateye jetty at Baterenkporo will put to rest the perennial flooding and marshy nature of the land between the two extremities of Bateren community.”

The host of the 2024 event, was the Trust Chairman, Dr. Peter Etchie and the Principal announcer of the event, was Hon. Emiko Odin-Etuwewe.

This Newspaper gathered that the symposium was moderated by Hon. Kingsley Omaghomi, even as leaders of the community such as Prince Moses Orubu Fregene and Tuoyo Omaghomi, graced the occasion.

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