...Urges Ondo federal lawmakers to fight for Ilaje, Ese-Odo inclusion

The Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, has warned against blaming Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the exclusion of Ilaje and Ese-Odo communities from the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, urging federal ministers and lawmakers from the state to intervene.

Poroye said the coastal road was a Federal Government project that required collective efforts by political leaders to secure the inclusion of the affected communities, rather than shifting responsibility to the governor.

He also called on the Federal Government to establish a special intervention fund for shoreline protection, waterway dredging, flood control, access roads and livelihood restoration in Ondo State's vulnerable riverine communities.

He made the appeal during a visit by a delegation comprising representatives of OSOPADEC, the Ondo State Ministry of Environment and the Ugboland Host Communities Development Trust to the Minister of Finance, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.

"We must stop the blame game. This is a Federal Government project, not a state government project. It requires a collaborative effort from everyone who has a responsibility to protect the interests of Ondo State," he said.

Poroye disclosed that Aiyedatiwa had repeatedly appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and Hitech Construction Company to reconsider the road's alignment to accommodate other parts of the state's coastline.

He urged the state's three senators, federal ministers and members of the House of Representatives to engage the relevant authorities to secure the inclusion of the Ilaje and Ese-Odo axes in the project.

"If we are saying the governor is not speaking enough, does that mean you, too, will not speak because you are not the governor? Are you not an indigene of Ondo State? This is not about political sentiments; it is about the future of our people," Poroye said.

He maintained that if the coastal highway could not be extended to adequately serve the affected communities, the Federal Government should provide a dedicated intervention package to address their longstanding environmental and infrastructural challenges.

The OSOPADEC chairman listed the Ugbo-Oghoye Road, Akintubuwa-Mahin-Ugbo-Ugbonla Road, proposed Ugbonla-Aiyetoro Road, Agadagba-Obon-Arogbo Road, Araromi-Alape-Agerige-Lagos Road and Ilutitun-Mahintedo-Itebu-Kunmi-Atijere Road among routes requiring urgent attention.

He said the proposed intervention should also cover shoreline protection, dredging, flood control, livelihood restoration and related security concerns.

Poroye appealed to Oyedele to engage relevant federal authorities and facilitate funding for the proposed interventions, citing the Ministry of Finance's strategic role in the national budget process.

The delegation included members of OSOPADEC's top management, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Akin Omotola, who represented the commissioner, Dr Tob Loko, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ugboland Host Communities Development Trust, Sir Benson Obayelu.

Responding on behalf of Oyedele, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammad Sanusi, assured the delegation that the Federal Government would explore possible areas of intervention in collaboration with OSOPADEC.

He stressed the need for sustained engagement with relevant federal agencies to address the environmental and infrastructural challenges confronting Ondo State's oil-producing communities.