The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is an interventionist agency set up by the Delta State Government through a 2007 Law which was amended in 2010, 2015 and 2019 respectively.
The responsibility of the Commission includes administering, exclusively, 50% of the constitutionally provided 13% oil derivation funds accruing to the Delta State government for the Rehabilitation and development of the oil-producing areas of the state, as well as embarking on other development projects as may be determined from time to time by the Commission
The mandate area covers six (6) oil and gas producing and impacted ethnic nationalities of Itsekiri, jaw, Urhobo, isoko, Ndokwa and lka, and spread across 21 council areas respectively. namely:
Warri North, Warri South West, Warri South, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu, Sapele, Okpe, Unwie, Isoko North, Isoko South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Ukwuani, la South, and lka North East council areas.
One year after an intensive gubernatorial campaign in which Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori emerged Governor, Deltans were promised MORE dividends of democracy.
In his inaugural address, Oborevwori said: “This era will advance Delta State to greater heights in people-centered policies, human capital development, and infrastructure renewal. With what has been achieved by the immediate past administration, the new government is poised to ADVANCE the state through the MORE agenda”.
Governor Oborevwori has yet to back down on his promise. He has constantly reassured Deltans of his administration’s commitment to the sustainable development and advancement of the state through his MORE Agenda.
Through the instrumentality of DESOPADEC, the state government has continued to positively affect the lives of citizens in the mandate areas of the commission through different interventions in infrastructure, human capital development and other community-centred projects.
Here is a look at some of the accomplishments in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC in the past one year
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
“The existing entrepreneurship development programmes will be sustained and expanded to encourage the creation of more small-scale businesses, thus creating jobs and, consequently, reducing crime and anti-social activities amongst our vibrant youth population.” Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
In fulfilling these objectives which aims to harness the potential of youths in Delta State by developing and investing in their skills, the Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief John Nani and the Managing Director/CEO, Chief Festus Ochonogor, including other functionaries on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, presided over the graduation ceremony of over one hundred and ninety-five Beneficiaries of the DESOPADEC Skills Academy (DSA) of Batch 4 of the vocational program of the Academy.
The DESOPADEC Skills Academy (DSA) is a six-month intensive training programme targeted at youths, girls, women, and vulnerable members of oil-bearing and impacted communities in the Commission’s Mandate Areas. It is aimed at confronting the menace of unemployment in the state.
The total number of beneficiaries and their vocational disciplines includes:1. Catering and confectioneries-762. Fashion Design- 56 3. Welding and Fabrication- 28 4. Software and Hardware Development- 9. 5. POP, Tiling and interlocking- 46. Electrical installation and repairs- 1Total Batch 4
beneficiaries=195 The Commission provided all the beneficiaries with startup kits and finance to take off on their entrepreneurial journey.
Photo:Chairman, DESOPADEC board, chief John Nani, presenting a certificate to a graduate of the DESOPADEC skills academy
Photo: A graduate of the DESOPADEC Skills Academy
FLOOD CONTROL INTERVENTION: In July, 2023, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, predicted heavy rainfall and flooding across more than seventeen states, including Delta State. The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission DESOPADEC, embarked on flood control measures in the Commission’s Mandate Areas, as directed by His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State.
These measures were aimed at reducing and
confronting the devastating effects of such flooding in the Commission’s Mandate Areas. The intervention commenced on July 22, 2023, with the evacuation work along Airport Road Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area, starting from the Angle Park roundabout, to the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Headquarters.
The drainage system which is linked to the Edjeba Canal, just after the School of Nursing Warri, was silted with all sorts of waste, debris, and outright blockage by residents in the area. Clearing work was also done on the Kosini Canal, passing through Edjeba to the Warri River.
Desilting of drainages took place at Ekurede Itsekiri, Ekurede Urhobo, and Shell Gate, Warri. Other places where the intervention work took place were: Uvwie, desilting of drainages on Jakpa Road, Clearing of Okoloba Canal, Effurun GRA, Alaka Community; Okpe Local Government Area, Osubi and Okuokoko; Ughelli, Agbaroh, Ekiugbo, Ovwor, Sapele, Ekiagbodo, Jesse, Oleh, Elu, Agbor, Kotokoto, Udu, Ogor, Kwale, Ashaka and many others benefited from the intervention.
INFRASTRUCTURE
SCHOOLS: The Commission has completed the building and provision of facilities at the Modern Secondary school, Ogulagha in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, started in 2013, judged as one of the best Modern Secondary schools in the Riverine Areas of Delta State and is due to be Commissioned a few weeks from now, by His. Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State. Many other housing projects are currently going on in the Mandate Areas, due for commissioning.
Modern Secondary School in Ogulagha, Burutu Local Government area, Built by DESOPADEC
ROADS: “This administration will ensure the completion of all ongoing projects – roads, bridges, schools, and other physical infrastructure.”
The Board members have embarked on verification of all completed projects in the Mandate Areas. On Thursday, May, 9th, 2024, the team was in Sapele, where they inspected the completed 400m Road at Izu, Okparume, and Avweaghagha in Sapele Local Government Area. Also in Jesse, Ethiope West Local Government Area, the team visited the completed 160m Efemini Road projects and the completed phase 1-2 of the 1.3km Atiwo Road in Jesse Township.
Many other developmental projects are due for commissioning in the mandate areas to mark the Board of DESOPADEC’s first anniversary in office.
MULTI-PURPOSE HALL/CIVIC CENTRE: The Commission built a one hundred-and-fifty-seater multipurpose hall in Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area of the state; a civic centre at Owa-Oyibu in Ika North-East, and a 24-room divisional police headquarters in Ndokwa East local government area.
Civic centre at Owa-Oyibu, built by DESOPADEC
150-Seater multi-purpose hall, Abigborodo, Warri North LGA
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