- Meets KOSOPADEC Board/Management
- Lauds Oborevwori For Making Inter-Agency Hub
BY ELOHOR FOGHOLA
THE Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Barr. John Nani, yesterday, described Delta State as a model for other oil-producing states.
Chief Nani disclosed this, yesterday, during a meeting with the Board and Management of KOSOPADEC at the corporate head office of DESOPADEC in Warri.
He commended the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for positioning the State as a hub for inter-agency learning, adding that DESOPADEC board’s structure ensures fairness and inclusiveness.
On the operational structure of DESOPADEC, Nani disclosed that DESOPADEC was structured after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“It is governed by a rotational leadership system, where both the Chairman and Managing Director/CEO rotate among the six ethnic nationalities of the mandate areas of Delta State.
“The board is made up of four Executive Directors that oversee Finance & Administration, Projects, Social Services, and Planning, Research and Statistics and six ethnic nationality representatives representing their local governments”, he explained.
On funding and revenue allocation, the Chairman said that allocation was determined by the quantum of oil production from the state’s 21 oil-producing local government areas. Itsekiri 29%, Urhobo 21%, Ijaws 27%, Isoko 14%, Ndokwa 9%, and Ika, adding that DESOPADEC’s activities are funded primarily from 50% of the 13% Derivation to the state government.
He added that the board was also subject to three oversight committees in the State House of Assembly, House Committee on DESOPADEC, Public Account Committee and Appropriation Committee which ensured that projects and operations were in line with state laws and policies.
On how projects are executed, Chief Nani said that projects are not imposed on the people, as DESOPADEC operates a bottom-up approach, where local communities identify their needs through town hall meetings consultations with community leaders, youth, women groups, and other stakeholders.
According to him, the projects are selected based on community priority, feasibility, and impact, ensuring that development is people-driven rather than top-down.
The Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, while speaking during the meeting described the KOSOPADEC visit as a strong endorsement of the commission’s exemplary operational model.
He said DESOPADEC’s doors remained open for professional collaboration and encouraged the delegation to engage with various directorates for hands-on knowledge.
According to him, the commission’s experienced administrators were ready to share insights that can strengthen inter-agency practices beyond the visit.
He also urged DESOPADEC staff to continue upholding high standards, noting that the commission’s reputation for excellence was the reason other states now come to Delta for guidance. He disclosed that Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission also came a few months ago to understudy DESOPADEC.
He thanked the visitors for choosing to “learn the art of doing well” and encouraged ongoing exchange of ideas to support mutual development.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of KOSOPADEC, Mr Suleiman Ndarayi Abdullahi commended DESOPADEC team for the opportunity to learn from them, saying the team came with a genuine desire to learn.
The visit concluded with a tour of DESOPADEC facilities and interface session between the visiting team and Departments of DESOPADEC led by the Executive Director of Projects,, Olorogun Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu who gave them an insight into DESOPADEC’S operations.
