𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢: 𝗘𝘀𝗲-𝗢𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲, 40 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁

By NigerDelta Voice,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

The Executive Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, High Chief Caleb Ebimobowei Molos, has flagged off a council-wide desilting and debris-clearance exercise aimed at reducing the risk of flooding across the 10 wards of the local government.

The exercise was officially launched on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Council Secretariat in Igbekebo, where the chairman also presented letters of award to 40 indigenes selected to execute the environmental sanitation project.

The ceremony was held alongside the September edition of the Council's Youth and Women Empowerment Programme, reflecting the administration's emphasis on combining environmental protection with grassroots employment opportunities.

Speaking at the event, Molos said the initiative was designed to ensure that drainages, gutters and waterways across Ese-Odo remain free-flowing, particularly in riverine communities that are vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.

According to him, the decision to engage 40 indigenes was deliberate, as the administration wanted members of the local communities to participate directly in protecting their environment.

“This administration believes in empowering our own people first. These 40 indigenes you are seeing today are not just contractors. They are stakeholders who will take ownership of keeping our environment clean and safe,” he said.

The beneficiaries received their letters of award and mobilisation support to commence the immediate clearing of blocked drainage channels and waterways across the local government.

Molos explained that the riverine nature of Ese-Odo makes several communities susceptible to flooding, water-borne diseases and other environmental challenges, stressing that preventive action was necessary to protect lives and property.

He said blocked drainages and waterways remained a major contributor to flooding and warned that failure to clear them before the rains intensify could result in avoidable losses.

The chairman charged the 40 beneficiaries and their supervisors to ensure quality and timely execution of the work, while urging them to collaborate with traditional leaders and Community Development Committee chairmen to ensure effective coverage of their respective areas.

Molos also described the project as part of his administration's broader youth and women empowerment strategy, noting that the engagement would provide immediate income for local youths while simultaneously addressing an important environmental challenge.

“This is empowerment with impact. You are earning, and at the same time you are protecting your own homes and communities from disaster,” he told the beneficiaries.

Earlier, the Special Adviser on Youth and Sports, Hon. Omotola Omogbemi, described the initiative as “employment with purpose,” saying it was consistent with the administration's grassroots development objectives and aligned with the agenda of the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the council chairman for the opportunity and pledged to execute the assignment diligently and justify the confidence reposed in them.

The desilting and debris-clearance exercise is expected to cover major towns and villages across Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

The initiative marks another effort by the Molos-led administration to combine environmental management, flood prevention and local employment as part of its grassroots development drive.