OSOPADEC: 2026 Will Be a Year of Consolidation as New Projects Set to Commence – Poroye
8th January,2026
The Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, has said that 2026 will be a year of consolidation for the Commission, with new projects set to commence alongside the completion of ongoing and inherited interventions across its mandate areas.
Prince Poroye made this known on Tuesday while delivering his opening address to staff at the commencement of the 2026 working year. The address, themed “Where Challenges Arise, Strength Responds, and Stability Follows,” was drawn from 1 Peter 5:10.
He identified staff welfare and accelerated development of oil-producing communities as key priorities for OSOPADEC in the new year, commending staff for their patience, professionalism and cooperation. According to him, despite operational and structural challenges inherited by the present administration, collective effort has helped to stabilise the Commission.
Reflecting on 2025, the Chairman said the administration deliberately avoided publicity-driven governance, opting instead for careful planning, quiet reforms and deliberate actions aimed at restoring OSOPADEC’s core mandate as an effective interventionist agency. He explained that a major focus during the year was the completion of inherited projects, rather than abandoning them for new initiatives, a strategy he said was already yielding visible results across the mandate areas.
Looking ahead, Prince Poroye disclosed that several new projects already approved by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa would soon commence, even as efforts continued to secure approval for additional interventions aligned with OSOPADEC’s development priorities.
He further stressed that discipline, professionalism and accountability would remain non-negotiable, adding that respect for rules and commitment to duty would guide the Commission’s operations. He also revealed plans to expand and strengthen OSOPADEC’s administrative structure to improve efficiency, clarify responsibilities and position the agency for improved performance.
As part of the Commission’s consolidation drive, Prince Poroye reaffirmed OSOPADEC’s commitment to the timely completion of the students’ hostel project at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
He gave the assurance on Wednesday when the university’s management, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, paid a courtesy visit to OSOPADEC’s headquarters. During the meeting, both parties reviewed the status of the hostel project and discussed steps towards its completion. Prince Poroye described the project as critical to addressing students’ accommodation and security challenges, particularly in view of security incidents recorded in 2025. He reiterated that the Commission remains committed to completing all inherited projects, in line with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s directive against project abandonment.
The OSOPADEC Chairman disclosed that all necessary approvals had been secured to facilitate the timely completion of the hostel, adding that the facility would be equipped with shuttle services and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance students’ safety.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, expressed appreciation to OSOPADEC for the reassurance, noting that the hostel project, which is about 60 per cent completed, would accommodate approximately 800 students upon completion. He also lamented the rising cost of off-campus accommodation in Akungba, which he said ranges between ₦150,000 and ₦250,000 annually.
Prince Poroye expressed confidence that with sustained focus, unity and commitment among staff, OSOPADEC would record greater achievements in 2026, reiterating that the ultimate goal of the Commission remains the delivery of tangible benefits to the people of the oil-producing areas of Ondo State.
