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Barely three months after the release of ₦8.4 billion to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) for the settlement of contractors, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is under fresh fire as unpaid debts continue to mount, now nearing ₦7 billion, triggering threats of mass protest and operational shutdown.

Investigations reveal that the initial ₦8.4 billion intervention has done little to calm tensions among contractors, many of whom have endured over two years of non-payment. Aggrieved stakeholders are now mobilising to storm DESOPADEC premises, with plans to block the commission’s gates and cripple activities until their outstanding payments are settled.

Breakdown of the disbursed funds has further deepened the controversy. Of the ₦8.4 billion released, about ₦3.5 billion was allegedly used to settle debts owed to a select group of contractors reportedly linked to top government loyalists, including board members and their associates. The remaining ₦4.9 billion, sources say, was spread across the wider pool of contractors, covering barely half of the existing obligations.

Before the intervention, DESOPADEC’s debt profile stood at approximately ₦15 billion. While the ₦8.4 billion payment reduced the figure on paper, fresh project completions and accumulating liabilities have pushed the outstanding debt to about ₦7 billion.

Further compounding the crisis is the reported halt in payments since late last year. Despite steady monthly allocations to the state, contractors claim there have been no disbursements for November, December, and January, raising questions about the government’s commitment to clearing the backlog.

Frustration among contractors is boiling over. One of them, Barnabas Igbe, questioned the moral justification of the delays, accusing the government of neglecting smaller contractors who took loans to execute projects. He lamented that while billions are being spent on major infrastructure projects, local contractors remain unpaid, warning that “a labourer deserves his wages.”

Another contractor, Chief Evawere Onoriode, alleged that the situation reflects deeper political undercurrents, suggesting that the current administration is sidelining the DESOPADEC board due to its ties to the previous government. He also raised concerns over the non-release of the statutory 50 percent share of the 13 percent derivation fund to the commission.

Echoing similar sentiments, Nwachukwu Odogwu traced the roots of the crisis to the previous administration, alleging that funds meant for DESOPADEC were diverted for political purposes. He accused the current government of continuing the same pattern, insisting there is no justification for the sustained non-payment despite increased state revenues.

With tensions escalating and contractors now poised for confrontation, the unfolding crisis threatens to paralyse DESOPADEC’s operations and further expose the fault lines in Delta State’s project financing and accountability structure.