ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved the release of ₦8.4 billion to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) for the settlement of long-outstanding contract liabilities accumulated between 2010 and 2023.
The financial intervention, according to the state government, is intended to restore contractor confidence, stimulate economic activity, and accelerate grassroots development across the state’s oil-producing communities.
Speaking to journalists at Government House, Asaba, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Communication, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the funds would be used to pay contractors who executed verified projects for the Commission but had remained unpaid for several years.
Aniagwu explained that contractors owed ₦20 million and below would receive full payment, while those owed above ₦20 million would get 50 per cent of their outstanding sum as a first installment.
He said the move reflects Governor Oborevwori’s commitment to tackling inherited financial obligations with transparency and compassion, consistent with the administration’s MORE Agenda, Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.
“You will recall that not long ago, His Excellency directed the release of ₦10 billion to the State Pension Bureau to clear a substantial portion of outstanding pension liabilities. This is consistent with his earlier intervention on the settlement of promotion arrears. Despite the fact that many of these challenges predated his administration, he has continued to address them with courage and compassion,” Aniagwu stated.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, commended Governor Oborevwori for the intervention, describing it as a significant step toward restoring trust and ensuring continuity in project delivery across the oil-producing areas.
Ochonogor noted that since the Oborevwori administration came on board, the current DESOPADEC Management has maintained regular payments to contractors handling ongoing projects, adding that the ₦8.4 billion approval is specifically to offset inherited debts from previous years.
He disclosed that the verified liabilities covered a wide range of projects including road construction, school rehabilitation, water supply schemes, jetties, and other community development initiatives.
According to him, the Governor had earlier directed DESOPADEC to conduct a thorough audit of all outstanding contracts to verify claims and ensure accountability before granting approval for the payments.
The decision has been widely applauded across oil-producing communities in Delta State, where expectations have been high for the completion of key infrastructure and development projects that have stalled for over a decade.
