Flood Control: Nani, Ochonogor Tour DESOPADEC Desilting Sites

By Evelyn Obibi-Assay, Igho Ejememo

The Chairman of the Board of DESOPADEC, Chief John Obukohwo Nani and the Managing Director/CEO, Chief Festus Ochonogor today Tuesday June 23, 2026 inspected the ongoing desilting of canals and drains across DESOPADEC mandate areas to assess the progress.

The inspection commenced with a visit to Niger Cat Road, Effurun in Uvwie where a swamp buggy was seen clearing mounds of debris from a major canal.

Officials from Delta State Ministry of Environment and DESOPADEC who were on ground said the machine had earlier cleared canals at Charlisco Phase 2 and Chinkelly Road which according to them, link to and discharge into the Jeddo River.

The team also inspected a cleared canal at Aka Avenue, Jakpa Road and an ongoing work site at Deeper Life Road, off Sokoh Estate Road where the swamp buggy was seen removing heaps of waste dumped in the waterway.

Some landlords of the area who were at the site, Engr. Collins Akari and Mr. Reuben Gbakara thanked the State Government and DESOPADEC for the exercise, noting that the canal was last cleared four years ago and asked DESOPADEC to reconstruct the over 40-year-old culvert now overwhelmed by runoff during heavy rains.

In Sapele, the team, joined by Board Member representing Sapele, Okpe and Ethiope West, Chief Julius Egbedi and Sapele Council Chairman, Chief Bright Abeke inspected massive drains desilting work along Akintola Road, which began from Awolowo Junction on Okpe Road. Heavily silted drains were seen being cleared of tons of waste.

Speaking to newsmen, Chief Nani said the exercise is a proactive step ordered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to prevent flooding across DESOPADEC mandate areas.

Blaming indiscriminate dumping of refuse for clogged canals and culverts, he urged residents to use Private Sector Participants, PSPs, instead of turning drains into dump sites.

“We expect that floods will definitely come. We also know that blockage of canals is the main cause. Some people have taken the canals as their dump sites and that is the problem,” Nani said.

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Chief Nani added that the Governor is also building storm water drains in Asaba and other cities to reduce the impact of the predicted flood, noting that desilting is ongoing across all DESOPADEC mandate areas.

DESOPADEC MD/CEO, Chief Festus Ochonogor while also fielding questions from Newsmen, said work in Sapele will continue through the Week but won’t cover all areas due to the scale of siltation, stating that this is only the first phase, with a second phase set for July-August, 2026.

“The target is to reach as many places as possible so that the flood, despite predictions, will not be devastating,” he said.

He called the desilting critical infrastructure, like flyovers and roads, whose importance shows only when floods hit.

Chief Ochonogor praised the Governor’s leadership and the joint effort with the Ministry of Environment and Local Councils.

Showing contentment with the team’s work, he asked residents to take ownership of drains and stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Sapele Council Chairman, Chief Bright Abeke, while also speaking to Newsmen, said the council has set up a 120-member environmental committee to watch cleared drains and stop illegal dumping.

“It is our duty now to manage so that tomorrow we will not come back here,” he said.

He further added that the committee will start public awareness campaigns after its inauguration to prevent flooding caused by dirt packed into drains, noting that council workers are also clearing drains in Amukpe.