The Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Hon. Nicholas Efele,recently disclosed that the Itsekiri Nation has the most abandoned DESOPADEC projects in Delta State.
He disclosed this at a recent town hall meeting between stakeholders and DESOPADEC in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area in Delta State.
He identified contractors as the major challenge the DESOPADEC Board had in Itsekiri communities.
“Some of the contractors are wicked. Projects that are supposed to be completed in one fiscal year, which would have brought prosperity to our communities, are being abandoned.
“Some contractors receive money for the jobs and don’t execute same and most of them are indigenous contractors,” he said.
Hon. Efele revealed that in the course of the tour of Itsekiri communities, the commission discovered some wasteful projects that were not relevant to the development of the communities as well as duplicated projects.
“DESOPADEC has two jetties at Usele; the money used for the other jetty would have been used to execute another viable project,” he opined.
“In some communities they have two healthcare centres, with one not activated. These are money that could have been channelled to other uses,” he added.
On the economy, Hon Efele stated that there was the need for diversification, as crude oil may not last for ever due to climate change.
“There are no more economic activities in our communities, any town without economic activity is bound to be stagnant.
“We want to partner with the communities to look at different ways we can boost the economy, especially in the area of agriculture production,” he said.
He affirmed the need for the reorientation of the leaders in the communities to be better administrators.
The Commissioner representing Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality in DESOPADEC, Hon. Sunny Ofe, speaking earlier, said that the absence of cordial relationship between the commission and communities had led to abandonment of projects.
“We are here to build that relationship in order to move our ethnic nationality forward.
“As leaders of our various communities, we must put the interests of our communities first; not our individual interest,” he added.
Those in attendance at the town hall meeting were Hon. Misan Ukubenyinje, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly; Hon. Jeyemia Urunmatsoma, Leader, Warri North Local Government Council, Legislative Arm; DESOPADEC Board members; chairmen and secretaries of various communities in Warri North, among others.
