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A non-partisan Group, Niger Delta Youths Movement
(NDYM), has criticised the allocation of money meant for the
development of the oil producing communities, on projects that are not
sited in the mandate area of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas
Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The group, in a statement issued by its National
Officer, Bright Omogbuyi, said it is an aberration for the state
government to use OSOPADEC fund to fund projects located outside the
riverside communities.

Specifically, the group cited the use of the
commission’s funds to carry out projects in some tertiary institutions,
saying the OSOPADEC fund is exclusively meant to develop the oil
producing communities.

“We want to state categorically that OSOPADEC fund
is meant to develop the communities in the oil producing areas, and not
the entire state. The fund is exclusively meant for the development of
the people where the fund that is being used to develop the entire
nation is found,” the NDYM said.

“By the virtue of the edict that establishes the
commission, it is wrong for government to use money meant for oil
producing communities to fund communities outside the mandate area. It
is an aberration for government to use such money to fund institutions
outside the mandate area. Since the government is not using state money
to fund the commission, we want to beg the present administration not
to follow the footstep of the past government.”

The group also pleaded with the state governor,
Olusegun Mimiko, to urgently pay the money being owed some contractors
handling projects awarded to them by the immediate past government in
the state.

The group also urged Mr Mimiko to revive all the ailing industries
sited in the Southern Senatorial district of the state, including Oluwa
Glass and Okitipupa Oilpalm industry.”