By Evelyn Obibi-Assay & Igho Ejememo
As the threat of heavy flooding looms across Delta State, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, has swung into full action with a comprehensive flood control operation in Jesse town. The exercise, which began on Thursday, July 25, 2025, continued on Monday, August 4, with aggressive de-silting and waste evacuation in key flood-prone areas.
One of the major operations was carried out along Ukuedejor/Police Station Road, where pay loaders and trucks were deployed to clear blocked drains and remove accumulated debris. Residents welcomed the intervention with open arms. “Whenever it rains, water takes over the whole place. My customers can't reach me,” said Mrs. Esther Saturday, a shop owner. “But now, thanks to Governor Oborevwori and DESOPADEC, I’m hopeful my business will bounce back. It’s a great relief.”
A vulcanizer, Mr. Samuel Ajosere, whose roadside shop was often flooded, also praised the effort. “This shows that DESOPADEC truly cares. The Chairman, Olorogun Bar. John Nani, and the MD/CEO, Chief Festus Ochonogor, have demonstrated they understand what we go through,” he said.
Ironically, a sudden downpour during the ongoing work briefly disrupted operations but also offered DESOPADEC Media reporters a live glimpse into the hardship residents endure with every rainfall. The scene underscored the urgency and importance of the intervention.
Beyond Ukuedejor, other areas benefiting from the de-silting effort include Jesse Primary School Road, Akpaka Road, Olympia Road, Oyibo Dedegbo Road, and Uyo Road. The scope of the operation reflects DESOPADEC’s firm commitment to its mandate of not just development, but tangible, people-focused solutions in oil-producing communities.
