By Ayo Olowu
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Determined to significantly improve the living conditions of the people of its mandate areas of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission OSOPADEC has said it will soon begin the execution of transportation and housing projects in the area.
The Chairman of OSOPADEC, Honourable Olugbenga Edema who made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Hope affirmed that the commission will soon begin the construction of wooden walkways, being the usual means of transportation of the people and building of housing units to address accommodation problem in the area.
Edema noted that since the new board of the commission came on board, it has been offsetting the portfolio of debts on inherited projects which has impeded the speed of projects delivery of the commission.
He however assured the people of the mandate area that OSOPADEC is committed to their overrall welfare, progress and development.
His words; “Like I said earlier, we inherited a lot of projects and also its attendant portfolio of debts, what I mean by attendant portfolio of debt are those projects we inherited and they are ongoing and of course, the monetary implications.
So we have been paying these debts since we came on board. But we also appreciate the fact that in our mandate areas, especially the riverine areas, the easiest mode of transportation is this wooden walkingway, some people may tell you that this wooden walking way is not feasible, but we have experienced it that the wooden walkingways is the easiest and cheapest means of transportation within the communities around our mandate areas.”
Edema noted that the contractors that will execute the wooden walkways project have been mobilised to site while cheques have been issued to them.
The OSOPADEC Chairman also affirmed that the technology of the project is well known to the people of the mandate area.
He disclosed that the commission is set to build housing units in the mandate area to enhance patronage of primary, secondary schools and health facilities in the area.
“We have proposed to Mr. Governor and he has approved it. Very soon, those ones are going to be awarded too”.
While speaking on the recent flooding that ravaged Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area, Edema said that the issue was raised as a memo at the Third Council Meeting on Niger Delta held in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State and it was graciously accepted.
He therefore affirmed that the Council on Niger Delta, which is the highest decision making body in the Niger Delta region is already looking into the Ayetoro issue and expressed optimism that the best will be done for the people of Ayetoro in that regard.