Poroye raises concerns over shoreline erosion, infrastructure deficits in Ondo oil-producing communities
The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has sought Federal Government intervention to address sea incursion, strengthen shoreline protection and facilitate the completion of abandoned projects threatening development in oil-producing communities across the state.
The appeal was made by the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, during a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Poroye, who led the commission’s delegation, highlighted the environmental challenges, infrastructure deficits and development needs of communities within OSOPADEC’s mandate areas.
He called for urgent federal support to tackle the persistent threat of sea incursion, intensify shoreline protection and promote sustainable development in the riverine communities.
The OSOPADEC chairman also drew attention to several abandoned federal projects in the affected areas, noting that their completion would help bridge infrastructure gaps and improve residents’ living conditions.
He said some of the projects had been awarded several years ago but remained uncompleted, denying host communities the benefits for which they were conceived.
Poroye urged the Federal Government to intervene by facilitating the completion of the projects and ensuring that the affected communities benefited from the intended development initiatives.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammad Sanusi, who represented the minister, assured the delegation of the ministry’s willingness to collaborate with OSOPADEC in exploring possible areas of federal intervention.
Sanusi acknowledged the concerns raised by the commission and stressed the need for sustained engagement with relevant federal institutions to develop practical solutions to the environmental and infrastructural challenges confronting oil-producing communities in Ondo State.
He noted that effective coordination among the relevant agencies would be critical to advancing the proposed interventions, particularly projects requiring substantial funding and technical expertise.
The permanent secretary urged OSOPADEC to sustain its engagement with the ministry to enable further consideration of the issues raised and identify viable ways of addressing them.
Members of the delegation included Sir Benson Obayelu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ugbo-Land Host Communities Development Trust; OSOPADEC’s Executive Director, Finance, Mallam Mallon Ogbaro; Executive Director, Projects, Dr Olujimi Kufo; Wole Akintemehin; Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Engr. Akin Omotola; the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Environment; and the commission’s Secretary, F.A. Omomowo, among others.
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