Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A multi-million naira erosion control project in Ondo State has allegedly remained undelivered, despite full payment having been made to the contractor, according to multiple sources tracking public expenditure and infrastructure development in the state. The project, valued at approximately N45.5 million, was awarded to address the devastating effects of flooding and gully erosion that have plagued communities in the Ondo West Local Government Area, particularly in Kajola/Temidayo and surrounding areas.
The existence of the project is documented in official government records, with the Budget Office of the Federation listing "EROSION CONTROL AT KAJOLA/TEMIDAYO, ONDO WEST LGA, ONDO STATE" among approved projects. However, multiple sources indicate that despite full payment to the contractor, little to no visible work has been carried out on the ground, leaving residents to continue suffering the devastating consequences of unchecked erosion and flooding.
The alleged non-delivery of the N45.5 million project is part of a troubling pattern of abandoned and undelivered public projects across Ondo State. A report by BudgIT's Tracka platform, published on March 19, 2026, revealed that public projects worth over N24 billion across several Nigerian states were abandoned, unexecuted, or fraudulently delivered. Ondo State was found to have one of the highest rates of unexecuted projects at 32.4 per cent, trailing only behind one other state. This suggests that the erosion control project is not an isolated case but rather symptomatic of a broader systemic failure in project execution and contract management.
The erosion crisis in Ondo State is not new. In January 2021, the Federal Government commissioned the Ondo Township Erosion Control Works in what was described as a major intervention to address the devastating effects of erosion and flooding in the Niger Delta region. However, subsequent tracking of ecological projects revealed that the Ondo Township erosion control works, approved in November 2017, was only at 30 per cent completion as of May 2024. This means that despite official commissioning and handover ceremonies in 2021, the project remained largely uncompleted, raising serious questions about the utilisation of public funds.
The failure to deliver the erosion control project comes amid a deepening funding gridlock that has crippled governance and stalled public projects across Ondo State. According to reports, several contractor payment files, including those tied to infrastructure and donor-funded projects, have remained pending for months, awaiting approval from the state's Commissioner for Finance. Contractors handling road maintenance, community development, and public awareness programmes have reportedly faced significant backlogs that have disrupted operations and delayed project completion.
A contractor who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the severity of the delays: "We have done the work and submitted all documentation. What is holding everything back is the release process. Without payment, there is no continuity". Another contractor handling a donor-backed project said: "We have completed our phase of work and submitted all documentation months ago. Everything now depends on the commissioner's signature, but the files have been left untouched. Our workers are waiting to be paid, and we are unable to continue work on other assigned sites".
The delay in payments has been linked directly to the Finance Commissioner, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac, who has reportedly failed to sign off on critical contractor files since 2024. Sources within the Ministry of Finance confirmed that files relating to contractor payments, including those for media adverts and publicity campaigns placed by international donor-backed programmes, have been left unattended in the commissioner's office waiting for her approval. The situation, insiders said, has created a bottleneck that could affect the state's credibility with donor partners and disrupt scheduled project timelines.
The consequences of the undelivered erosion control project have been devastating for local communities. Residents of Kajola/Temidayo and surrounding areas in Ondo West LGA continue to face the ravages of flooding and gully erosion, with homes, farmlands, and infrastructure at risk of destruction. In many parts of Ondo State, coastal communities have experienced severe land loss, with the Atlantic Ocean swallowing entire settlements. The Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area, for instance, has seen more than two-thirds of its landmass consumed by the ocean, despite billions of naira being awarded in shoreline protection contracts over the years.
Development finance experts have warned that prolonged bottlenecks in fund disbursement send negative signals to international partners. Festus James, a development finance expert, noted: "Financial commitments, especially those tied to international projects, must be honoured promptly. Delays suggest weak systems and can discourage further engagement". Civil society groups in Akure have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene, warning that continued delays in the disbursement of approved funds could reverse the modest developmental gains made under his administration.
The N45.5 million erosion control project represents a microcosm of the broader challenges facing public infrastructure delivery in Ondo State. Despite budgetary approvals and full payments, communities continue to suffer while contractors remain unpaid and projects remain uncompleted. The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has previously demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigate non-executed contracts in Ondo communities, highlighting the growing frustration with the cycle of abandoned projects.
Analysts warn that the implications of these delays go beyond immediate project delivery, pointing to risks around fiscal credibility, institutional effectiveness, and investor confidence. Ondo has, in recent years, positioned itself as a destination for donor-backed interventions in infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture. However, delays in meeting financial obligations could undermine that positioning and discourage future partnerships.
As the rainy season continues and the threat of flooding intensifies, residents of Kajola/Temidayo and other erosion-prone communities in Ondo West LGA remain vulnerable. The N45.5 million project, fully paid but allegedly undelivered, stands as a stark reminder of the gap between government promises and the lived realities of ordinary citizens. For the communities affected, the question is not just where the money went, but when, if ever, they will see the erosion control measures they were promised and desperately need.
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