Ondo: Communities protest alleged delay in disbursement of N400m relief fund

Ondo map

Residents of some communities in the oil rich Ilaje council areas of Ondo State have protested the alleged delay in the disbursement of a N400 million relief fund approved by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for victims of recent violence in the area by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

They include residents of Obe Nla, Obe Adun and Obe Jedo communities.

The protesters, who blocked the entrance of the commission’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital locked its gate and prevented staff from exiting the premises.

They insisting that their action was aimed at drawing government attention to what they described as “unjustifiable suffering” of victims months after the incident.

Their spokesperson, Omosohanne Obadiah, said that the affected communities were attacked and houses were vandalised, residents assaulted and women allegedly molested.

Obadiah said the Ondo State government, intervened by approving and ordering the released N400 million to the intervention agency in November 2025 to compensate verified victims, following the appeal by Ilaje Omuro Worldwide Connect to the state governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa

He however lamented that the fund had allegedly not reached those affected.

According to him “We are deeply concerned and disappointed that four months after the release of this fund, victims are still suffering. “This money was approved to bring relief, yet families cannot afford food, clothing or shelter. I personally lost a bakery and other properties to the incident” he said.

According to him, the delay has worsened poverty in the communities and eroded trust in government interventions meant to cushion the impact of security-related crises.

The protesters demanded the immediate release of the N400 million to all verified victims, a transparent investigation into the handling of the fund, and urgent intervention by the Ondo State Government to prevent a recurrence.