OPAF Passes Vote of No Confidence on OSOPADEC Chairman Prince Biyi Poroye Over Alleged Lack of Commissioned Projects One Year After Taking Office

...Says ₦33.8 Billion Annual Allocation Has Yet to Translate into Tangible Development Across Oil-Producing Communities

The Ondo People's Accountability Front (OPAF), under the leadership of its President, Comrade Utanghan Education, has passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye, alleging that one year after assuming office, his administration has failed to commission any major development project across the Commission's mandate areas.

Prince Poroye, who was inaugurated as Chairman of OSOPADEC on June 16, 2025, marked his first anniversary in office on June 16, 2026. However, OPAF expressed deep concern over what it described as a disconnect between the Commission's enormous financial resources and the visible level of development in the oil-producing communities of Ondo State.

According to the group, OSOPADEC reportedly receives an estimated ₦33.82 billion annually through statutory allocations, yet many communities continue to grapple with poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of potable water, shoreline erosion, unemployment, and numerous abandoned development projects.

In a statement issued by the group, OPAF alleged that the Commission's activities over the past year have largely revolved around project flag-offs, inspections, media engagements, and public announcements, with little evidence of completed projects officially delivered for public use.

After one year in office, the people deserve to see completed and functional projects that directly improve their lives. Development should not be measured by ceremonies and announcements but by tangible impact on the welfare of the people," Comrade Utanghan Education stated.

The organization further questioned the sustainability of repeatedly flagging off projects without clear completion timelines and called on the Commission to provide greater transparency regarding the status of all ongoing projects.

Among the projects highlighted by OPAF is the 1,000-metre concrete walkway project in Obe-Nla, reportedly valued at ₦1.7 billion. The group demanded full disclosure of the project's scope, valuation, funding structure, implementation timeline, and current level of execution.

The group also expressed concern over the long-delayed General Hospital project in Agadagba-Obon, originally awarded in 2010, noting that despite several administrations and contract reviews, the project remains incomplete more than a decade later.

OPAF further criticized what it described as the uneven distribution of development projects across the Commission's mandate areas, urging OSOPADEC to ensure equitable allocation of projects between Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas.

The group drew particular attention to coastal communities such as Ayetoro, Awoye, Abereke, and Atijere, where residents continue to battle severe sea incursion and coastal erosion that threaten homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. It stressed that these communities urgently require shoreline protection and environmental intervention in line with OSOPADEC's statutory responsibilities.

Similarly, OPAF highlighted the deteriorating infrastructural conditions in several communities within the Ukparama axis of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, including Ajapa and Akpata communities.

According to the group, residents of Ajapa lack access to potable water and rely heavily on untreated stream water for daily consumption. It also called for the construction of modern concrete landing jetties and durable footbridges to facilitate transportation and boost economic activities.

The Akpata communities, including Tamaraubotei, Ugoububogho, Ojudo-Ama, and neighboring settlements, were also described as neglected, with residents forced to depend on dilapidated wooden walkways and abandoned infrastructure that pose serious safety risks.

While acknowledging that OSOPADEC has initiated several projects, OPAF maintained that the pace of execution and completion remains grossly inadequate considering the volume of resources reportedly available to the Commission.

Consequently, the organization called on the Ondo State House of Assembly, anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and other relevant oversight institutions to undertake a comprehensive review of OSOPADEC's financial allocations, contract awards, project implementation, and expenditure profile over the past year.

The group concluded by urging the Commission to prioritize the completion of ongoing projects and ensure equitable and visible development across all oil-producing communities, emphasizing that residents deserve access to quality healthcare, potable water, good roads, shoreline protection, functional jetties, and sustainable economic empowerment programmes that reflect the Commission's mandate.