The annual de-silting exercise by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC,) took place simultaneously in Jesse, Ughelli, and Otu-Jeremi, with excavators opening blocked drains and a swamp buggy clearing culverts ahead of the peak rainfall season.
Journalists who monitored the exercise observed active dredging at Moja stream and the construction of a new drain at Affighor Street, Jesse, where residents gathered to watch the operation.
The DESOPADEC board Chairman, John Nani, who led an inspection team to the sites today, said the commission commenced the 2026 exercise earlier this year as a proactive measure against flooding as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet).
“We came early this year, earlier than what we used to do. Most times, it’s when the flood has come, but the governor said we need to move early enough since NiMet has already predicted that Delta is one of the states that is going to be flooded.
“We don’t need to wait. As an interventionist agency, government directed that we should go to the field to open up areas we know will be flooded and this exercise aligns with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda on environmental sustainability,” Nani said
Giving a status update, Nani said work is ongoing at Moja stream in Jesse which evacuates water from Genesis Road to the Ethiope River and at GC Town Road.
At Affighor Street, he disclosed that a new drain is being constructed on the left side, while the existing drain on the right has been desilted to link to the Ethiope River.
He then confirmed that the discharge point of the Agbarho canal from Agbarho Town to Agbarho River has been opened.
“In Ughelli, most of the canals have been opened, including extensive work in the Olori Estate area.
“A swamp buggy is presently de-silting culverts along the Ughelli Road in Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South. When that swamp buggy leaves there, it will go to Isoko. We’re taking two swamp buggies to Isoko,” Nani disclosed.
He further stated that teams have also been working in Ika North and Ika South for about a week, with Sapele scheduled for between Sunday and Wednesday.
On challenges, Nani identified indiscriminate waste disposal as the major cause of blocked drains.
“It is the people that are causing the clog of these cells. They dump their waste inside the drain thinking when the rain comes, it will take it to the river.
“Then the cells of the culvert will be blocked and water will return to the community and on measures in place to prevent dumping of wastes indiscriminately, DESOPADEC sensitizes residents annually, but enforcement rests with the Ministry of Environment,” Nani added.
Residents in Affighor Street, Jesse, welcomed the intervention with Andrew Iweta, saying the exercise will drastically help to reduce flooding in the area because the drains will channel the floodwater to the River Ethiope.
Mrs. Evelyn Ogheneyoseme thanked the DESOPADEC board for the new drainage, citing past interventions, including solar-powered lights, care for widows, and yearly food distribution
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She, however, appealed for help in the provision of solar- powered water borehole system to solve the problem of water scarcity in the area.
In Otu-Jeremi, Mr. Onoworemu Augustine, coordinating the exercise in Ughelli South and Ughelli North said his team is de-silting the canal that drains the main town to the river across the market.
Confirming a better compliance this year as residents avoided dumping waste in box culverts, he expressed optimism that Ughelli South won’t experience flood after the work.
Alex Mukoro, former youth Vice President of Otu-Jeremi community, urged the commission to introduce youth empowerment programmes in the area.
