Yemisi Izuora
Stakeholders in the oil bearing communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo areas of Ondo State have agreed to a peace process across the creeks.
The stakeholders met at the instance of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) which is was set up to provide amenities for the people in the disadvantaged communities and to curtail the agitation of youths.
Welcoming the participants to the meeting held at Igbokoda, in Ilaje council area of the state, the Chairman of the agency, Pastor Johnson Wole Ogunyemi, said the parley was to remind the people of the mandate areas of OSOPADEC on the need to treasure peace and collectively consolidate the onerous peace -building process in the communities.
Ogunyemi pointed out that the theme of the conference, “Peace and Security Initiatives for Sustainable Development,” was chosen to picture the extant realities of the people in the mandate areas.
He explained that the commission had taken measures to ameliorate hardship, lack and unemployment in the mandate areas and in pursuance of Caring Heart Projects implemented by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
According to him, OSOPADEC can do more only if there is peace and security in the communities.
He mentioned some of the Commission’s projects to include the establishment of Lakwa Vanguard comprising 300 youths and eleven supervisors to remove weeds from waterways in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas.” Others are: “Construction of Skill Acquisition Centre and Ultra Modern Market at Ugbonla and Ugbo respectively, asphalt overlay at 6.5km Ojuala-Ipoke Road, construction of 1.7km concrete walk-way at Bolowho, construction of model schools and health centres across some communities, rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Igbokoda-Ayetoro Road (Phase one).
“Extension of National Grid from Igbokoda through Aboto to Araromi Sea-side and Igo, construction of water treatment facilities at Aboto to treat two million gallons per day and the laying of 45.61km water rising main along Igbokoda-Ayetoro Road, construction of 10km footbridges in 157 communities and disbursement of bursary to students of tertiary institutions from the mandate communities.”
The Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowole, commended Mimiko and the Chairman of the commission for placing the mandate areas on the priority list of the state.
The traditional ruler charged OSOPADEC to extend its services to other parts of the riverine area, yet TO benefit from the projects of the commission, and as well engage more youths in pursuance of the positive visions for the people.