Continued clearance of drainage in Kwale earns commendation for Oborevwori, DESOPADEC Leadership

There was renewed commendation 23rd June, 2026 in Kwale as the sustained de-silting and drainage clearance exercise led by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, in  conjunction with Delta State Ministry of Environment continued across key streets in Kwale, drawing praises for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the leadership of the Commission.

The ongoing intervention, aimed at reducing flooding and restoring proper water flow in Kwale and surrounding communities, has seen continuous deployment of equipment and personnel to clear blocked drains, silted canals and obstructed waterways.

Community members and stakeholders who observed the exercise on the field commended what they described as a “visible and coordinated response” to long-standing drainage challenges in the area.

At the forefront of the commendations was the administration of Governor Oborevwori whose infrastructure and environmental renewal agenda was described by residents as the driving force behind the sustained intervention. The governor was praised for supporting DESOPADEC to respond swiftly to flooding concerns across oil-producing communities.

The leadership of DESOPADEC also received strong recognition, with particular mention of the Board Chairman, Olorogun John Nani, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Festus Ochonogor, both of whom were applauded for maintaining what stakeholders called a “hands-on and responsive approach” to environmental management and community infrastructure needs.

Field observations and stakeholder feedback highlighted the coordinated supervision provided by the DESOPADEC leadership team, ensuring that de-silting operations were not only carried out but also sustained across multiple drainage corridors in Kwale and adjoining streets such as F & F Rd, Apa streets, IPO streets, amongst others.

Community representation during the exercise included host community leaders and the Ndokwa West Local Government Host Community Management Committee Chairman, Dcns. Chris Nwose popularly referred to as Mazbee who joined other stakeholders in commending the effort and describing the exercise as timely, noting that it was already helping to restore drainage flow and reduce the risk of flooding as the rainy season intensifies.

Local leaders like Chief Amaechi Nwafor, Chief Edwin Umukoro, UPU President, Ndokwa Chapter further emphasized that the intervention reflects improved collaboration between government institutions and host communities, urging residents to not only support the initiative by avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal into drainage channels but also called for continued engagement to ensure that cleared drains remained functional and protected from future blockage.

On her part, Mrs. Isah Hussena, a fashion designer from Kogi State and resident of the area acknowledged the government’s efforts but appealed for sustained action to curb flooding, especially before the rainy season peaks and recounted the difficult experiences residents faced during heavy rains, when flooded gutters make it hard to distinguish walkways from drainage channels, sometimes leading to accidents and discouraging customers from visiting shops. She however, expressed optimism, noting that the current work has already brought relief and renewed hope among residents.

As the desilting exercise continues across Kwale and other parts of Ndokwa nation, stakeholders say the sustained momentum signals a broader commitment by the State Government and DESOPADEC to environmental safety, infrastructure renewal and community resilience.

For now, attention remains on maintaining the cleared drains and expanding the operation to cover additional flood-prone areas in the Weeks ahead.

By Joyce Akpalikpo 

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