In a bid to protect its people from the Atlantic Ocean surge, the Ondo state government has resolved to end the cycle of failed interventions and reclaim land from the ravaging sea.
Last week, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa dispatched a high-powered delegation to Ghana on a fact-finding mission- a move aimed at identifying credible partners for a hitch-free large-scale dredging and land reclamation project in the State’s oil-producing belt.
This was disclosed in a post on the Facebook page of OSOPADEC.
The three-day mission was led by the Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, who acted on the Governor’s mandate that only firms with proven expertise, technical capacity and financial wherewithal should handle the proposed Ayetoro Shoreline Protection and Land Reclamation Project. Ayetoro itself, a community that has witnessed its coastline receding over the years, due to storm surges and tidal incursions from the sea.
In a bid to ensure capability, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s team visited Dredge Masters Ltd (DML), a Ghana-based marine engineering company renowned for its expertise in large-scale reclamation and coastal protection. The delegation assessed the firm’s equipment capacity, technical proficiency, and project record as part of its broader due diligence exercise within and outside Nigeria.
The Ondo State technical team also inspected major environmental and coastal works, including the Prampram Sea Defence, Ningo Dredging and Reclamation Project, and the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant. Strategic meetings were held with key players in the field, among them were Dredge Masters Ltd. and the Jospong Group, led by industrialist Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong.
Speaking after the visit, Prince Poroye described the engagement as insightful one, commending DML’s operational depth, heavy-duty equipment base, and well-structured technical workforce.
Prince Poroye recalled that previous efforts by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to find a solution to the perenial sea surge at Aiyetoro had been futile, leaving behind eroded land and disillusioned residents. This time, he assured that the government is determined to get it right. Therefore, he emphasized the need for competency in the project.
The OSOPADEC Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication in ensuring that only contractors with verifiable experience and demonstrable competence are considered for the project. He also hinted that the search for the right partner would continue until the most suitable firm is identified.
