The Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, (Hon.) Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode, JP, FCIA, has assented to the bye-law providing for the proper naming and identification of Udu Kingdoms, street naming and house numbering, paving the way for a more organised identification and address system across Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The bye-law originated from an executive bill transmitted by the Executive Chairman to the Udu Legislative Arm for consideration. The 10th Session of the 8th Assembly of the Udu Legislative Arm subsequently passed the bill, and the Chairman assented to it, bringing it into effect as a bye-law.
The initiative is aimed at promoting the proper identification of Udu Kingdoms and communities, improving security, facilitating access to banking services, enhancing urban and infrastructure planning, and strengthening revenue generation within the local government area.
Oyibode highlighted the importance of the initiative on Thursday 8 October 2026, during a public enlightenment meeting held at Otor-Udu, where he engaged community presidents, stakeholders and security agencies on the need for the proper naming and identification of Udu Kingdoms, streets and buildings.
The Chairman explained that the initiative would address challenges associated with the absence of proper identification of kingdoms, communities, streets and individual buildings, which could make it difficult for residents, visitors and service providers to locate specific addresses.
Using Igbiki Layout as an example, Oyibode noted that a single layout could comprise several streets, but the absence of distinct street names could create difficulties for residents, visitors, security agencies and service providers attempting to locate particular addresses.
He said the street-naming and house-numbering component of the initiative would ensure that streets were appropriately named and buildings assigned identifiable numbers, thereby establishing a more reliable address system across Udu.
According to him, an effective address system would strengthen security by enabling residents, security agencies and emergency responders to locate homes and other buildings more easily whenever the need arose.
Oyibode also identified banking services as another area that could benefit from the initiative, explaining that proper address identification and relevant documentation could simplify certain banking processes and improve residents’ access to services.
On urban planning and infrastructure development, the Chairman stressed the need for community leaders to participate actively in the exercise, noting that their knowledge of local boundaries, streets, community layouts and established identities would be crucial to its success.
He urged community presidents and other stakeholders to work closely with the consultants handling the exercise to identify streets, recommend appropriate names and ensure that the process reflects the actual structure and peculiarities of their respective communities.
The Chairman further explained that proper street identification would assist future road development and infrastructure planning by enabling relevant authorities to identify major roads, adjoining streets and connecting routes within communities.
He called on stakeholders to consider the long-term benefits of the initiative, particularly its potential to promote orderly community development, improve planning and enhance service delivery across Udu Local Government Area.
On revenue generation, Oyibode observed that a well-organised address system could support the Council’s efforts to strengthen its revenue base and improve its capacity to provide essential services and meet the developmental needs of the people.
While acknowledging that residents might encounter some challenges during the implementation process, he emphasised the need for collective commitment, cooperation and sustained engagement among the local government, community leaders, consultants and residents.
He maintained that the benefits of the initiative would extend beyond individual residents to the wider Udu community, making cooperation among all stakeholders essential for its successful implementation.
Also speaking at the meeting, the consultant for the street-naming and house-numbering exercise, Dr Edjoja Akpodiete, discussed the importance of the initiative and the need for an organised system that would make kingdoms, communities, streets and buildings properly identifiable.
The implementation of the bye-law is expected to promote the proper naming and identification of Udu Kingdoms, establish a more systematic address structure across communities, and deliver potential benefits in public safety, banking services, infrastructure development, revenue administration and socioeconomic growth.