In a tour that underscored his no-nonsense approach to development, the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye led an inspection team to two landmark projects in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state
Newsline NG learnt that the two projects; a ₦1.7 billion, 1,000-meter concrete walkway in Obe-nla and the nearly completed Molutehin Mini Water Scheme are poised to transform life in the riverine communities.
The Obe-nla concrete walkway, a first-of-its-kind in Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGAs, replaces the community’s old wooden bridge with a modern, flood-resistant, reinforced path. Awarded by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in 2024, the project has already become a point of pride for the people.
“This is not just a walkway, it’s a lifeline. It connects communities, eases movement, and shows what’s possible when leadership and vision meet. If replicated across our riverine belt, in five years we can link all communities with this standard infrastructure".
The Chairman commended contractor Dolban Technical Ltd. and consultant Riyadh International Ltd. for delivering quality without cutting corners, urging other agencies like the NDDC to adopt the walkway as a regional master plan.
With the contractor promising completion within 60 days, Poroye announced his intention to invite the Governor for commissioning.
From Obe-nla, the inspection train moved to Molutehin, where the Molutehin Mini Water Scheme is already 85% complete. Designed to produce 20,000 gallons of potable water daily using a reverse osmosis process to tackle the area’s brackish water challenge, the ₦236 million project will end decades of water scarcity that once forced residents to fetch water from Delta State.
Engr. Victor Erukubami explained that the upgrade from the initial ₦82.3 million contract was necessary to add a generator house, extra boreholes, and reticulation lines to neighboring communities.
Poroye, visibly moved, stressed the urgency of delivering the project.
“In 2025, no community in Ondo State should be importing sachet water. Access to clean water is not a luxury; it is a right. With Governor Aiyedatiwa’s proactive leadership, we will fast-track completion so our people can drink from their own land,” he affirmed.
He also hinted at policy reforms within OSOPADEC to ensure better contractor mobilization and faster project delivery, noting that some delays stem from inadequate upfront funding.
“Thirty percent mobilization is not enough. If we give 50%, we can keep contractors on site until completion without unnecessary breaks,” he stated.
Both projects, one ensuring safe passage across waterways, the other guaranteeing safe water in homes, represent OSOPADEC’s broader vision of integrated, people-centered infrastructure. As Poroye put it:
“We’re not just building structures; we’re building dignity, safety, and opportunity for our people.”
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