The Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, has celebrated his first year in office with an impressive record of completed and ongoing developmental projects across the Commission’s mandate areas, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and improved living standards for residents of the state’s oil-producing communities.
Prince Poroye made this known during an extensive inspection tour of projects executed by the Commission, where he highlighted the significant milestones recorded within the past year under the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
According to the OSOPADEC Chairman, the successes achieved by the Commission were made possible by the Governor’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development and his directive that government interventions must deliver measurable benefits to the people.
Reflecting on the Board’s inauguration on 16th June, 2025, Prince Poroye revealed that one of its earliest policy decisions was to prioritize the completion of inherited viable projects rather than abandoning them, a strategy he described as prudent, cost-effective, and beneficial to the people.
“Our decision to complete ongoing projects rather than initiate new ones indiscriminately was informed by our desire to maximize public resources and ensure that communities begin to enjoy the benefits of government investments without unnecessary delays,” he stated.
The inspection tour featured several landmark projects that have now been completed and are awaiting formal commissioning by Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Among the projects are the 1,000-metre concrete walkway at Obe-Nla and newly completed concrete landing walkways at Obe-Rewoye, Obe-Ogbaro, Obe-Magbe, and Obe-Lomore. The projects form part of OSOPADEC’s deliberate effort to replace unsafe and deteriorating wooden walkways in riverine communities with durable concrete structures designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and economic activities.
Speaking at Obe-Nla, Prince Poroye described the completed walkway as a testament to visionary leadership, sound planning, and effective governance.
“Development becomes inevitable where there is vision, political will, and commitment. This project demonstrates what can be achieved when leadership is focused on the needs of the people,” he said.
The Chairman further disclosed plans to make Obe-Nla a pilot community for a proposed land reclamation programme aimed at addressing environmental and infrastructural challenges facing several riverine settlements within the mandate areas.
The inspection team also visited the Molutehin Mini Water Scheme project, which has reached approximately 75 per cent completion.
Prince Poroye disclosed that the contractor handling the project had already been mobilized to drill an additional borehole to improve water supply capacity and ensure the project’s effectiveness upon completion.
He assured residents that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration remains committed to expanding access to potable water across the oil-producing communities and improving the quality of life of the people.
Despite challenges such as funding constraints and issues relating to project duplication, the OSOPADEC Chairman expressed satisfaction with the progress made within his first year in office.
He noted that residents across the mandate areas could attest to the Board’s commitment to service delivery, transparency, and impactful development.
“While we acknowledge that there is still much work to be done, we are encouraged by the progress we have recorded so far. We remain focused on delivering projects that directly impact the lives of our people and contribute to the overall development of our communities,” he said.
Prince Poroye also commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for providing purposeful leadership and creating an atmosphere of peace, stability, and progress that has enabled development initiatives to thrive across the state’s oil-producing communities.
He further praised OSOPADEC engineers, contractors, community leaders, and residents for their cooperation and support, noting that their contributions have been instrumental to the successful execution of projects.
Also speaking during the inspection tour, the Permanent Secretary of OSOPADEC, Mr. F.A. Omomowo, described the projects as impressive and reflective of the administration’s determination to improve the welfare of residents within the Commission’s mandate areas.
He commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for creating the enabling environment that has facilitated the Commission’s developmental achievements and urged communities to take ownership of public infrastructure.
According to him, the protection and maintenance of government projects are essential to ensuring their sustainability and long-term benefits for future generations.
Omomowo emphasized that community participation remains a critical component of sustainable development, stressing that residents must see public facilities as collective assets deserving of protection and preservation.
As Prince Biyi Poroye marks one year in office, the inspection tour provided a clear demonstration of OSOPADEC’s renewed focus on project completion, infrastructure delivery, and sustainable community development. With several completed projects awaiting commissioning by Governor Aiyedatiwa and more ongoing interventions progressing steadily, the Commission continues to expand its portfolio of impactful projects across Ondo State’s oil-producing communities.
Omomowo finally noted that the achievements recorded within the Commission’s first year under Prince Poroye’s leadership signal a new era of accountability, continuity, and development-focused governance in the mandate areas, with expectations high for even greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
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