Vanishing Millions Amid Neglect in Ugboland
The journey into Ugboland in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State is as difficult as it is revealing. Across the stretch of waterlogged terrain and coastal settlements battered by years of ocean surge, one reality stands out: there is little evidence that the ₦463 million reportedly allocated for school renovations and other projects ever reached the communities.
In Igbo Nla, Iloro, Ayetoro, Idi Ogba, Obe Nla, Obe Dapo, and Awoyee, the story is the same. School buildings sit in various states of decay, walls cracked open, foundations weakened by erosion, and roofs either sagging or completely gone. In some cases, the structures have been abandoned altogether, left at the mercy of harsh environmental conditions.
At Local Authority Primary School, Obe-dapo, the situation is particularly worse; the school building stands dangerously close to the shoreline, its foundation gradually eroded by saltwater.
The once sturdy structure now leans precariously, its walls stained and crumbling. There are no visible signs of renovation, no fresh cement, no roofing work, and no indication that any intervention has taken place.
A similar situation exists at Happy City College in Ayetoro, where residents claim the school’s condition has remained unchanged for years, despite reports that funds were released for its rehabilitation.
In Idi Ogba, community leader Ebietomiye Ajijo lamented the worsening state of the education infrastructure.
According to him, the community grammar school is partly gone, while the primary school operates with only four classrooms serving over 500 pupils across primary and secondary levels.
Schools in Ruins Despite Reported Renovation Funds.
“We heard that money was approved for these schools,” Ajijo said, pointing at the deteriorating structures. “But nothing has been done here. Our children are still learning in unsafe conditions. When the flooding becomes too much, classes are simply stopped.”
However, the OSOPADEC contractor and father of its former secretary claimed renovation of 21 schools in the OSOPADEC mandate area, Rehabilitation and repairs of ten transformers at Igbokoda, Renovation of the OSOPADEC area office, Phase 1 and 2, Renovation of the cold chain in Igbokoda,
Maintenance of the Aboto water treatment facility and clearing of waterways in mandated areas.
Document reveals procurement lapses and mismanagement of funds
A document obtained from anonymous sources at OSOPADEC detailing suspicious transactions from the agency’s capital account number 0066933017, domiciled at Sterling Bank Limited. The leaked document detailed the alleged diversion of funds from the agency’s capital project account to a private account, including the commission secretary’s father’s account.
Reality on the ground reveals that all of these exist only on paper, with no physical evidence of renovation or rehabilitation.
Education in Ugboland has become a Gamble.
For many families, education has become a gamble between hope and hazard. Children either gather in unsafe buildings that could collapse or stay home entirely when floodwaters take over classrooms. Increasingly, some are turning to fishing as an alternative to schooling.
Where Did the ₦463 Million Go?
The situation raises serious questions about the ₦463 million reportedly allocated by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for the renovation of 21 schools in riverine communities. The Commission’s former secretary had stated that the projects were executed through a “direct labour” arrangement, a method often used in hard-to-reach areas. However, findings across the communities suggest otherwise.
There are no visible contractors, no project signposts, and no accessible documentation confirming that work was carried out. What exists instead are deteriorating structures and communities left wondering how such a significant sum could leave no trace at all.
In Aboto, a water project was sighted, but access to it was limited. While the fence appeared recently painted, there was no clear indication of functional rehabilitation. Residents noted that the facility serves only two of the at least eight communities facing water shortages.
A crayfish seller in Awoyee, Omolegbe Oluwole, confirmed that most school structures have not seen recent repairs, contrary to OSOPADEC’s claim of renovating 21 schools with 463 million naira.
“The ocean surge affects us regularly,” he said. “Nothing has really changed in the OSOPADEC mandate project, its same story and experience without any improvement. It is only the Aboto water project that looks touched, and even that is just the fence that was painted recently, without water running through to the communities.”
At Obe Nla and Obe Dapo, the situation is no better. A secondary school teacher, Mr. Famous Jigimoh, said the community still relies on buildings built many years ago, despite significant damage from climate change.
“No meaningful renovation has been done despite huge funds alleged to have been diverted for renovation in the mandate areas,” he said. “We are still using damaged structures, even as the ocean continues to take parts of the buildings.”
Code of Conduct Bureau quizzes, investigation
According to the Code of Conduct Bureau, Akure office, the controversy on the diversion of 463million naira into the former OSOPADEC secretary’s father’s private account for renovation of schools and other infrastructures in mandate areas deepens amid allegations that the funds may have been diverted into a private account without any work being done, and such an arrangement violates procurement standards and points to a serious conflict of interest.
Expert view on award of contract.
Governance and procurement specialist Dr. Akintomide Akinlabi noted that while the direct labour approach can be effective in difficult terrain such as Ilaje, it requires strict oversight, transparency, and proper documentation, which appear to be lacking in this case.
Beyond financial concerns, the human cost is huge. Ocean surges and recurring floods have cut off access to several communities, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted livelihoods. Schools, already fragile, are among the hardest hit.
Despite the OSOPADEC claims of intervention, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in public fund management.
Ondo State House of Assembly Summon OSOPADEC.
To ensure accountability in procurement, the Ondo State House of Assembly has summoned the management of OSOPADEC. The move follows petitions from stakeholders, community leaders, and concerned citizens calling for urgent legislative intervention.
The Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, stated that the action is in line with Section 128(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the Assembly to investigate and demand the production of relevant documents.
Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on OSOPADEC, Oluwatoyin Allen, said the probe aims to ensure that the Commission fulfills its mandate.“We expect full cooperation from the management to provide the necessary information that will aid this investigation,” he said.
About two months ago, when the Code of Code Bureau CCB invited the OSOPADEC secretary for scrutiny, she revealed that her father, Mr. Andrew Kolawole Ikuesan, also identified as His Royal Majesty, Oba Andrew Kolawole Ikuesan, the traditional ruler of Obe-Nla Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State, was the OSOPADEC contractor in a direct labour arrangement.
After the scrutiny, the OSOPADEC secretary was redeployed from OSOPADEC to the state SUBEB as permanent secretary and subsequently sworn in.
Every effort made by BONews to speak with the OSOPADEC secretary and Chairman proved abortive as they declined to comment on the contract saga.
Civil Society React
However, stakeholders and civil society organisations in the education sector say the situation underscores the urgent need for stronger oversight, greater transparency, and improved monitoring of projects in remote communities.
The Executive Director of the Kids & Teens Resource Centre, Ondo State, Mrs. Folasade Bamigboye, expressed deep concern about the deplorable state of schools across Ilaje Local Government Area, describing the situation as a serious threat to the future of children in the riverine communities.
“Many of the schools are in poor condition, lacking basic learning infrastructure, safe classrooms, adequate teaching materials, and a conducive environment, considering the fact that ocean surges have ravaged the schools,” she lamented.
According to her, the neglect of the education sector in the area continues to widen the gap in access to quality learning for children who already face environmental and social disadvantages.
Mrs. Bamigboye also raised an alarm over the alleged mismanagement of funds by organizations and agencies saddled with the responsibility of monitoring, implementing, and overseeing developmental projects in the riverine communities.
She noted that resources meant to improve educational facilities and support community development must be transparently utilised to achieve their intended purpose.
The Executive Director, therefore, called for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and oversight bodies to ensure accountability, proper project supervision, and the immediate rehabilitation of schools in Ilaje communities.
For the people of Ugboland, however, the issue goes beyond figures and investigations. It is about children learning in unsafe classrooms, communities battling environmental threats, and a growing sense that promised development has yet to materialise.
Until tangible action is taken, the schools of Ilaje remain a powerful symbol of a troubling question: where did the money go?
This report was produced with support from the Civic Media Lab as part of its Grassroot News reporting Project (GNP) 3.0
