Hon. Sunny Ofe, the commissioner representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality in the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has reassured stakeholders of OML 42 host communities in the state on the commitment of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration to ameliorate their plights.

The commissioner gave the assurance when stakeholders of oil producing communities in Delta South under the aegis of OML 42 Host Communities Forum paid him an official visit on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at his office in Warri.

Executives and members of the OML 42 Host Communities Forum in attendance include Pst. Windfree Atemubaghan (chairman), Mr. Victor Tonlagha (vice chairman), Elder Francis Ayeku (secretary), Chief Samson Oyimi (Public Relations Officer), Amb. Billy Ekele (Treasurer). Others are Comrades Preye Ajemigi, Christmas Bekewei, Kosenen Kuroemi, Asin Fredrick, Prince Preye, Humphrey Yomere, John Dekawei, Tekedor Quinton, Sunny Atiwa, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the Forum, the P.R.O. Chief Oyimi, lamented the poor state of infrastructures and the lack of attention that is given by the agency of government to the OML 42 host communities despite it "being one of the highest producing oil field" in the country, noting that there is nothing on ground in the host communities to show that is commensurate with oil output from the oil bloc. 

Chief Oyimi appealed to Hon. Ofe, as a native from the area, to use his position as commissioner to correct the injustice by ensuring that the host communities of OML 42 get what rightfully should be theirs, especially in relation to meaningful projects that will impact positively the lives of the people besides jetties and toilets.

In the same vein, the Forum chairman, Pst. Atemubaghan, who acknowledged that the commissioner is a man of repute, appeal to him to bring to bear his credibility by doing the needful so that even when he is out of office, his reputation would continue to speak for him, just as he also promised that the Forum is ready to work with the Itsekiri commissioner.

In his response, Hon. Ofe, who thanked the Forum for their visit, hinted on his readiness to address their complaints by taking practical steps already to alleviate some of the plights of host communities.

In his words, "We have already made moves, as far as OML 42 is concerned, to satisfy stakeholders. I've started from Omadino/Obodo road which is in shambles. I made sure I budgeted for it to be done by December. I went to Ikantu; I saw the water project and the primary school is dilapidated. And I've already budgeted for these," he further revealed.

Hon. Ofe who appealed for patience on the part of the OML 42 stakeholders with the assurance that the issues will be "addressed in bits," also bemoaned the cases of execution of projects shabbily which he said will not be condoned by the current administration particularly as Governor Oborevwori means business.

Earlier, the Treasurer, Amb. Ekele, on behalf of the Forum congratulated the commissioner for his being appointed to represent the Itsekiri nationality in DESOPADEC and commended his display of the quality of a leader with a listening ear by giving the Forum audience despite the short notice.

OML 42 comprises of 14 host communities including Odidi, Egwa 1, Egwa 2, Kantu, Ajuju, Jones Creek, Batan, among others, with a total of seven flow stations with a combined capacity of 345,000 barrels of liquid per day, according to OML Asset Overview by Neconde Energy.

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