Olley Canvasses Unity, Urges DESOPADEC to Complete Abandoned Projects in Iwereland & other parts of the State.
Chief (Engr.) Dr. Wilson Olley, a prominent chief of Warri Kingdom and representative of the Olu of Warri at the function, has called on the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to urgently complete all abandoned projects across Iwereland. Olley made the appeal while serving as Father of the Day at the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors and Stakeholders Peace Concert held in Warri on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Addressing indigenous contractors, community leaders and stakeholders drawn from across Delta State, Chief Olley stressed that peace, unity and responsible partnership remain the foundation for sustainable development in oil-producing communities. He commended DESOPADEC for creating a platform that promotes dialogue and inclusiveness, noting that peaceful engagement is critical to attracting development initiatives and ensuring that derivation funds translate into tangible benefits at the grassroots.
The Warri Kingdom chief, however, expressed concern over the growing number of abandoned projects in Itsekiri areas, describing the situation as unacceptable. He emphasized that a large number of several uncompleted projects have been left abandoned by the commission. Some of the abandoned projects includes the Model Secondary School in Koko; hostel block and dining hall at Ogidigben Grammar School; drainage, sand-filling and landscaping works at the same school; abandoned health centres in Obodo, Egbokodo; the 50 units of 2 bedrooms flat abandoned in Big Warri Ode Itsekiri Olu and the need to revamp the 2 units of 2 bedroom flat at Gbokoda community Excravos-Madangho and Ugbolokposo, many of which lack basic equipment and power supply. Chief Olley urged the Managing Director and executive leadership of DESOPADEC to intensify monitoring of indigenous contractors and ensure the completion of all such projects in Warri Kingdom.
Olley emphasized that indigenous contractors must see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of contracts, but as partners in progress and ambassadors of peace in their host communities. According to him, professionalism, accountability and adherence to due process by contractors would help rebuild trust and guarantee that development projects are delivered as intended across Warri Kingdom and other oil-producing areas.
In conclusion, the peace concert also featured music, cultural displays and goodwill messages, highlighting the importance of social harmony in the Niger Delta. Participants used the end-of-year gathering to reflect on challenges faced in 2025, network and share expectations for the coming year, as organisers reaffirmed DESOPADEC’s commitment to transparency, peace and sustainable development in Delta State’s oil-bearing communities.
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