….Hails Aiyedatiwa’s vision for oil producing areas.
The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has recorded unprecedented achievements under the current Board led by the Executive Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, even as many projects in the oil-rich areas are now at completion stage.
Addressing a Press Conference at the commission’s Headquarters in Akure, Prince Poroye said since day one that he assumed office six months ago, his Board has been working in line with the vision of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, embodied in the ‘OUR EASE’ Agenda, an agenda grounded in Opportunity, Urban and Rural Development, and Social Well-being of the people.
Similarly, the OSOPADEC) Chairman said shoreline protection and land reclamation projects to stem the devastating coastal erosion and sea incursion ravaging oil-producing communities in the sunshine state.
Poroye revealed that the commission had developed strategic plans for shoreline protection and reclamation in Ayetoro and other vulnerable coastal communities.
While noting that the commission’s various interventions were critical to safeguarding lives, property, and livelihoods in riverine areas, Poroye insisted that residents continued to suffer from the devastating effects of climate change, sea incursion, and coastal erosion.
Declaring that the 10th board had delivered key infrastructure and social projects within the period, the Chairman said those initiatives aimed to improve living conditions in oil-producing areas.
Poroye added that the 2023/2024 OSOPADEC scholarships and bursaries had been fully paid to eligible students from oil-producing communities.
He disclosed that the state governor had also approved the completion of three OSOPADEC student hostels at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
The OSOPADEC boss further stated that the 28.5km Aboto–Atijere Road had achieved 33 per cent completion, while the 4.72km Ugbo-Nla–Erunna Road—also referred to as Igbokoda–Ayetoro Road Phase III—was under processing.
Poroye also noted that the rural electrification of Ilumeje-Atijere, covering Igboegunrin, Gbolomi, and Igbobi, was undergoing approval at the Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement.
“Thank you for the vital work you do everyday, informing our people, asking questions, and holding government accountable. In a democracy, your role is not optional; it is indispensable to transparency, good governance, and the trust between government and the people it serves.
“We have gathered to speak to the people of our dear State, especially the men, women, and young people of our oil-producing areas, about what we have done over the past six months, and the direction in which we are headed.
“Six months ago, the 10th Board of OSOPADEC was entrusted with a clear mandate by Mr. Governor, to serve not ourselves, but the people. We were asked to do so in line with the vision of His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, embodied in the ‘OUR EASE’ Agenda, an agenda grounded in Opportunity, Urban and Rural Development, and Social Well-being.
“From day one, the message from Mr. Governor was unmistakable: governance must be people-centered, transparent, and impactful. Especially for communities that have given so much to the prosperity of our state, yet for too long have received little in return. That charge continues to guide our work.
“We understood that progress cannot stand on shaky foundations. That is why our first task was to restore stability and trust within the Commission. In line with the OUR EASE commitment to effective and transparent governance, we resolved the long-standing litigation between OSOPADEC and Coastville Global Resources; an investment arm of the Commission.
“The legal teams have been directed to withdraw the case, clearing a major roadblock to development and sending a clear signal that the Commission is focused on solutions, not distractions. We are confident that all other outstanding litigations will be systematically addressed and brought fully under control in the overall interest of the Commission and the people we serve.
“Under the Social Well-being pillar of the OUR EASE Agenda, we focused on interventions that meet people where they are. The completion of the General Hospital at Agadagba-Obon in Ese-Odo now brings quality healthcare closer to riverine communities that have waited far too long. In education, we completed the renovation of 21 public primary and secondary schools across Ilaje and Ese-Odo, creating environments where children can learn, teachers can teach, and hope can be restored.
“Distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm, recognizing that education is the surest pathway to opportunity, His Excellency, the Governor, approved the completion of three OSOPADEC student hostels at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
“The 2023/2024 OSOPADEC scholarships and bursaries were fully disbursed to eligible students from oil-producing areas, easing financial burdens and reaffirming a timeless truth that education remains the cornerstone of national development. We also understood that communities cannot grow if they remain disconnected.
“In advancing the Urban and Rural Development component of the OUR EASE Agenda, we prioritized infrastructure that opens doors to commerce and connectivity. The construction of 28.5km Aboto–Atijere Road is on the verge of completion. Preparations have been concluded for the 4.72km Ugbo-Nla–Erunna Road, this particular road will strengthen movement, trade, and social integration along our coastal corridor.
“To liberate our communities from the challenges posed by inadequate electricity, the Commission has initiated the rural electrification of Ilumeje-Atijere, covering from Igboegunrin through Gbolomi to Igbobi.
“The project is currently undergoing the approval process at the Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement (ODBPP). As part of this initiative, the Commission had earlier installed five (5) units of transformers, comprising 500KVA and 300KVA at Aboto and strategic locations across Igbokoda. This move is set to brighten homes, empower small businesses, and bring much-needed electricity to communities long in the dark.
“To enhance the living conditions of our people, the construction of 1,000 meters of concrete walkways in Obe-Nla has reached 85% completion, providing safer, more dignified, and accessible pathways for the community. Likewise, the School of Maritime Transport and Logistics at Ugbo-Nla, also 85% complete, represents a strategic investment in skills development, employment opportunities, and the blue economy sectors with immense potential to transform the livelihoods of our coastal communities.
“Accountability has always been our guiding principle. In line with this, upon assuming office, the Board conducted extensive project tours across OSOPADEC’s mandate areas to ensure thorough oversight and scrutiny.
“We prioritized the mobilization and timely payment of our contractors, including star projects such as the Omuro International Market in Ugbo-Nla, because sustainable economic development must be tangibly felt in markets, livelihoods, and the growth of local enterprise.
“Moreover, in response to the pressing challenges of climate change, sea incursion and coastal erosion, the Commission has initiated strategic plans for shoreline protection and reclamation in Ayetoro and other affected communities.
“Recognizing that development must be both rapid and sustainable, Mr. Governor has approved the construction of a shoreline protection and reclamation project at Obe-Nla as a pilot initiative to evaluate and refine the technology before broader deployment.
“Finally, we turned our focus inward, recognizing that institutions are only as strong as the people who serve them. Guided by the Governor’s vision of a responsive and efficient public service, we implemented comprehensive capacity-building programmes, facilitated well-deserved staff promotions and training as well as enhanced welfare provisions, all reinforced by a Board and Management Retreat hosted in October this year, to sharpen focus, strengthen collaboration, and align our collective purpose as a Commission.
“These achievements are not the end of our journey, they are evidence of tangible progress. In January, we will embark on another round of inspections with the media to showcase our ongoing work. They reflect a Commission dedicated to transforming vision into action, policy into projects, and promises into measurable results.
“We are deeply grateful to His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, for his steady leadership and unflinching support. I also wish to sincerely appreciate our esteemed board members, the management team and the entire staff of the Commission for their dedication, commitment, and determination in ensuring that the mandate entrusted to the board is faithfully executed.
“We equally extend our heartfelt thanks to the media for your professionalism, vigilance, and invaluable partnership. We cannot thank you enough. Above all, we remain accountable to the people of Ondo State, particularly citizens of the oil-rich region, because this work is, and must always be about them,” Poroye said.
