The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OSOPADEC

  • OSOPADEC: Ugbo indigenes faults Edema’s appointment

    The appointment of a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Gbenga Edema, as the Chairman of the State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC) by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is being contested at the Okitipupa High Court by some Ugbo indigenes.

    But in a motion on notice filed by Charles Titiloye, counsel to Edema, the defendant prayed the Court to decline jurisdiction of the suit and strike it out.

    He said the claimants representing Ugbo community in Ilaje Local Government Area has no ‘locus standi’ to institute the action to challenge the appointment of Edema as OSOPADEC chairman by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    He contended that Edema is an indigene of the coastline Ogogoro Community in Mahin kingdom where there is Chevron offshore oil exploration and therefore competent to be appointed as the commission’s chairman.

    Titiloye noted that OSOPADEC law did not recognise Ugbo as the only oil producing kingdom in Ilaje land, but all indigenes of the local government comprising Mahin, Aheri and Etikan extractions.

    He pointed out that the writ of summons filed by the claimant was done in flagrance disregard of the High Court rules and therefore ‘incurably defective’ and must be strike out by the court.

    He prayed for the dismissal of the suit,which he described as an academic exercise brought in bad faith to distract Edema from performing his duty as OSOPADEC Chairman. No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • Group alleges economic sabotage at OSOPADEC

    The National Secretary of the Egbe Omo Ilaje, Ondo State, Comrade Robison Ogunfeyijimi, has alleged that the Ondo State government has withdrawn large sums of money from the account of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development (OSOPADEC).

    At a conference in Lagos, he said the government’s illegal withdrawal of money from OSOPADEC account has led to decaying infrastructure in the Ilaje community and the state at large.

    He said the money meant for the development of oil producing communities, if properly utilised, would transform the state, noting the people of Ilaje were negatively affected by government’s action.

    He said: “It had equally come to the knowledge of Egbe Omo Ilaje that some unscrupulous politicians are subverting the collective destinies of our people. They are fomenting trouble in the process crippling economic activities and making life difficult for the Ilaje people.

    “We are calling on the Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone XI, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Ondo Area Commander and the DPO Igbokoda to put extra security measures to thwart the plans of these evil perpetrators.”

    He added that the community has suffered under the present administration, stressing that there are no good roads, electricity, functional health centres, recreational facilities and pipe-borne water despite the money allocated by OSOPADEC to develop the oil producing communities.

    Ogunfeyijimi maintained that the purpose of OSOPADEC and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been defeated. “It has become an avenue for politicians, particularly the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, and member of the commissions to amass illegal wealth.

    “We are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the activities of OSOPADEC since 2003 to date. We equally call for the relocation of the headquarters of OSOPADEC sited at Oba Ile, Akure to Igbokoda in line with the law that sets up the commission.”

  • Footbridges launched in Ondo riverine communities

    Footbridges launched in Ondo riverine communities

    Troubled residents of the riverine communities of Ondo State that are finding it difficult to assess their homes would soon heave a sigh of relief.

    To tackle this challenge, a number of footbridges will be constructed by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) which sources say would cover a distance of over 10 kilometres in 157 communities.

    The construction of the bridges was launched at the Ayetoro Community Hall at a programme attended by various stakeholders comprising officials of the OSOPADEC, traditional rulers, youth and women groups and government officials.

    Chairman of OSOPADEC, Mr. Johnson Ogunyemi, said the project is being embarked on to improve the lives of the people in the riverine areas.

    He disclosed that the construction of the second phase of the pedestrian bridges would commence soon, adding that the first phase would be completed within 12 weeks.

     

    While stating that the footbridges would last for a minimum of 10 years unlike the previous ones, the OSOPADEC boss urged the people of the areas particularly those in the communities where the projects are sited to cooperate with the contractors and OSOPADEC in order to ensure the projects are completed on schedule.

     

  • Ondo bye-election: APC picks ex-OSOPADEC boss

    Ondo bye-election: APC picks ex-OSOPADEC boss

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State at the weekend declared the former Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Adewale Omojuwa, as its candidate for the April 5 bye-election for the vacant seat of Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency.

    A statement by the Secretary, Interim Committee of the party in the State, Prince Olu Adegboro, said Omojuwa polled 83votes to beat six other aspirants, who included Mr. Bambo Odoro, Soji Ehinlanwo, N.Tawose, A.0 Jolomi, Iwajomo Desmond and Akin Okadigbo.

    In his acceptance speech, Omojuwa commended the party members for reposing confidence in him, promising to work with the other aspirants to ensure victory for APC in the election.

     

  • Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    ONe of the aims of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) is to tackle the most visible problem in the oil communities – bad roads. But the interventionist agency seems not to be making the desired impact on the area.

    Unlike in the upland areas of Ondo State, the coastal communities have no link roads, no electricity and infrastructure despite that they are the golden fish that lays the state’s eggs.

    Without the Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas, rating Ondo as an oil producer would not be possible.

    The state is enjoying oil derivation funds, but the source of that huge windfall is being neglected. Many important roads in the Ondo South Senatorial District, the oil producing region of Ondo, are left in deplorable conditions for the inhabitants to wonder where all their oil money was being spent.

    In 2008,OSOPADEC awarded the contract for the construction of Okitipupa-Irele road,which is 10.9km, to SETRACO Nigeria Limited for N4.2billion to ease the problem of transportation in the southern part of the state.

    The road, according to initial plan, was to be inaugurated in 2009, but has been abandoned.Besides, OSOPADEC awarded construction of Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola road to the same SETRACO Nigeria Limited at a cost of N10billion.

    Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola roads have since been abandoned by SETRACO, while Ugbonla-Ayetoro road, the only link to communities in the main coastal area, has been neglected.

    The Nation’s visit to the area passing through Ode-Mahin was a harrowing experience to behold. The vehicle that conveyed our correspondent broke down because of the deplorable situation of the road.

    For a long time, all entreaties by leaders of the communities to the relevant authority to repair or lay asphalt on the road has fallen on deaf ears making life more unbearable to travellers on the road.

    This development is also having negative effects on the economic and social lifeline of Ilaje people.

    The road was to provide cheap access through Ogun and Lagos states, the commercial nerve centre of the country.

    Prospective investors and visitors to the area always think twice before embarking on such journey, as several times the road has caused caused accidents that claimed lives.

    At the Okitipupa-Irele road, the bridge designed to link the road has been abandoned since 2009,thereby making the road impassable.

    It was observed that the Irele Local Government constructed a wooden bridge to link the extremely bad spots and, unfortunately, the council chairman allegedly imposed a N50 toll for crossing the bridge, thus further compounding the burden of the people.

    The Publicity Secretary of Ilaje Forum (IF) Dare Ebimomi urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe how the funds appropriated to OSOPADEC were spent by its chairman and other board members.

  • Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    ONe of the aims of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) is to tackle the most visible problem in the oil communities – bad roads. But the interventionist agency seems not to be making the desired impact on the area.

    Unlike in the upland areas of Ondo State, the coastal communities have no link roads, no electricity and infrastructure despite that they are the golden fish that lays the state’s eggs.

    Without the Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas, rating Ondo as an oil producer would not be possible.

    The state is enjoying oil derivation funds, but the source of that huge windfall is being neglected. Many important roads in the Ondo South Senatorial District, the oil producing region of Ondo, are left in deplorable conditions for the inhabitants to wonder where all their oil money was being spent.

    In 2008,OSOPADEC awarded the contract for the construction of Okitipupa-Irele road,which is 10.9km, to SETRACO Nigeria Limited for N4.2billion to ease the problem of transportation in the southern part of the state.

    The road, according to initial plan, was to be inaugurated in 2009, but has been abandoned.Besides, OSOPADEC awarded construction of Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola road to the same SETRACO Nigeria Limited at a cost of N10billion.

    Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola roads have since been abandoned by SETRACO, while Ugbonla-Ayetoro road, the only link to communities in the main coastal area, has been neglected.

    The Nation’s visit to the area passing through Ode-Mahin was a harrowing experience to behold. The vehicle that conveyed our correspondent broke down because of the deplorable situation of the road.

    For a long time, all entreaties by leaders of the communities to the relevant authority to repair or lay asphalt on the road has fallen on deaf ears making life more unbearable to travellers on the road.

    This development is also having negative effects on the economic and social lifeline of Ilaje people.

    The road was to provide cheap access through Ogun and Lagos states, the commercial nerve centre of the country.

    Prospective investors and visitors to the area always think twice before embarking on such journey, as several times the road has caused caused accidents that claimed lives.

    At the Okitipupa-Irele road, the bridge designed to link the road has been abandoned since 2009,thereby making the road impassable.

    It was observed that the Irele Local Government constructed a wooden bridge to link the extremely bad spots and, unfortunately, the council chairman allegedly imposed a N50 toll for crossing the bridge, thus further compounding the burden of the people.

    The Publicity Secretary of Ilaje Forum (IF) Dare Ebimomi urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe how the funds appropriated to OSOPADEC were spent by its chairman and other board members.

  • Group rejects OSOPADEC board

    Group rejects OSOPADEC board

    A group, the Ilaje Forum (IF), yesterday kicked against the constitution of the Ondo State Oil producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Board, chaired by Pastor Johnson Ogunyemi.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko appointed Ogunyemi last week Tuesday to replace Prince Debo Ajimuda, who was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.

    Mrs. Ruth Edu, Omotehinse Olumide, Richard Kekemeke, Francis Igbasan and Abosede Brown were appointed part time members of the board.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dare Ebimomi, IF condemned the appointment of non-indigenes of oil-producing communities on the board.

    It said: “We reject a situation where people outside oil-producing communities are appointed into OSOPADEC to manage the 40 per cent fund meant exclusively for the development of the communities.”

    “We demand immediate amendment to the OSOPADEC law because the commission as constituted cannot meet the aspirations for the development of the area.

    “We demand unconditional autonomy for OSOPADEC. The commission should be allowed to project its own vision and fund itself without being tied to the apron string of the state government.”

    The group urged the government to relocate OSOPADEC headquarters from Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government to Igbokoda.

    It gave the government 14 days to remove non-oil producing indigenes from the board.

  • Ondo youths protest appointments in NDDC, OSOPADEC

    More than 500 youths yesterday stormed Ondo State Governor’s Office in Akure, protesting administration of oil matters and appointments into oil-related bodies.

    They came from the oil producing zone of Mahin/Aheri/Etikan in Ilaje Local Government.

    They besieged Alagbaka, Akure to protest the stand of Ugbo community on the planned merger of the oil associations in the local government.

    The protesters, who arrived at the Governor’s Office about noon in 18-seater buses, carried placards with inscriptions.

    The protesters said it was time government stopped the domination of other communities by people of Ugbo land in the administration of oil matters.

    They presented a statement to Governor Olusegun Mimiko signed by seven leaders from the area, including Chiefs Olu Malumi, Ebenezer Ogungbure and Zeblon Orisamugbehin.

    They said the protest by the Ugbo community was uncalled for and not in the interest of the majority of Ilaje people.

    The protesters noted that the rejection of the purported merger with Ugbo by Chevron was a pointer that it was done in error and unacceptable to the oil giant and the Ilaje people, following which government had set up a technical committee to work on a pan-Ilaje merger.

    “It is wrong for the Ugbo extraction to be dominating appointments into oil-related bodies, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    “The Ugbo indigenes have in the last 10 years been dominating posts in NDDC, OSOPADEC and lately the Local Content Board. This we will resist.

    “While Ugbo has unjustifiably dominated most appointments from Ilaje with nothing to show in terms of the development of Ilaje land, some of them will stop at nothing in their efforts to pull down the few non-Ugbo but more patriotic and intellectually-superior Ilaje personality in government as demonstrated,” the statement said.

    The people said they agreed to support any arrangement by the government that would ensure equity and the peaceful engagement of Ilaje coastal communities as equal stakeholders in its offshore oil and gas assets and activities.

    They said: “Having monopolised appointments into NDDC since 2000, OSOPADEC since 2003 and the Local Content Board at present, we reject any attempt to consider any person of Ilaje Ugbo origin in the imminent appointments into such oil-related positions.

    “We urge that other persons from the oil producing areas in the state be given opportunity in the effort to develop the land and its people.”

     

  • Ilaje communities at war over oil revenue

    OIL-producing communities in Ugbo-land, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have kicked against the composition of the recently constituted committee for oil-producing areas in the state by the state government.

    The Ilaje-Ugbo Coastal Communities Development Committee was recently constituted by Mr. Sola Orisamoluwa, Director of Finance, Ondo State Oil Producing and Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    However, a group, Confederation of IlajeUgbo-land, described the committee as illegal, stressing that it was done without any consultation with the host communities and stakeholders known to the oil producing communities.

    A protest letter by the group to Chevron Nigeria Limited flayed the composition of the group, particularly nominations made by Oba Obateru Akinruntan and other influential individuals, warn the oil-producing giant not to deal with members of the committee.

    Signatories to the protest letter, comprising members of the seven ruling houses, Ugbo-Nla, Aiyetoro and Iluabo Zion and Ikorigho Zion communities said, “HRM Obateru Akinruntan nominated his cousins and relatives. On his part, Dr. Alli Mann, Permanent Secretary, OSOPADEC, nominated his younger brother, Mr. Kunle Alli, as the secretary of the body.

    “Moreover, Mr. Sola Orisamoluwa nominated his brother, Mr. Tope Olowofoyekun. HRH Femi Ogbaro, a traditional ruler of his kingdom, put up himself as the chairman of the body.

    “All these were done without any consultation with the host communities and stakeholders who have been known from time immemorial as confederation of IlajeUgbo-land representatives,” the document, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, stated.

    While expressing its dissatisfaction with the turn of event, the group remarked that Obateru protested the composition of a similar committee that was set up by his deposed predecessor in 2002.