The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) has called on the Ondo State Government to review the leadership of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), citing what it describes as "inadequate developmental impact" one year after the appointment of the Commission's Chairman, Prince Biyi Poroye.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, the Forum expressed concern over the pace of development in the Commission's mandate areas, particularly Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas, despite the numerous challenges confronting oil-producing communities.

According to IPF, residents continue to face poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare services, lack of potable water, shoreline erosion, environmental degradation, and limited economic opportunities. 

The Forum noted that while several projects have been announced and inspected, many communities are yet to witness sufficient completed projects with tangible benefits.

The group urged the Ondo State Government to conduct a comprehensive assessment of OSOPADEC's performance and developmental impact over the past year to determine whether the Commission is effectively fulfilling its mandate.

IPF further called for renewed efforts to address the socio-economic and infrastructural challenges facing oil-producing communities, stressing that the people of Ilaje and Ese-Odo deserve sustainable development, improved public services, and greater economic opportunities.

The Forum maintained that strengthening or reviewing the Commission's effectiveness would help restore public confidence and accelerate development across the state's oil-producing areas.

Meanwhile, OSOPADEC, through its Director of Project Monitoring, Dipo Aluko, has said that it has spent over N4bn to complete abandoned projects across riverine communities in Ondo State, noting that several infrastructure projects had been delivered across the mandate areas.

However, the Ondo People's Accountability Front (OPAF), through its President, Comrade Utanghan Education, passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the OSOPADEC alleging that since assuming office one year after, his administration failed to commission any major development project across the Commission's mandate areas.

The 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, noting that OSOPADEC reportedly receives an estimated ₦33.82 billion annually through statutory allocations.

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