Gov Adeleke Discusses ‘Controversial’ Ilesa Water Project During Meeting With Water Resources Minister In Abuja
Governor Ademola Adeleke has taken immediate steps to fast- track resumption of works on the controversial Ilesa water project while also tabling issues of federal collaboration in respect of the Ile Ife, Iwo, and Ede Water supply projects.
Adeleke’s spokesman, Mr Olawale Rasheed noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com that the governor discussed these issues during a closed- door meeting with the Minister of Water Resources in Abuja.
Governor Adeleke, the statement added, expressed the desire of his administration to resolve all project implementation hiccups delaying the Ilesa Water project, while stating his readiness for a tripartite consultation between the state government, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The Governor told the Minister that such a consultation will unravel details of the contractual and technical issues delaying the completion of the project, adding that the committee set up at the state level had since discovered a lot of irregularities in the contract implementation, leading to the suspension of the project consultant.
Governor Adeleke further opened discussions on federal partnership for the revitalization of Iwo and Ede Water projects, both schemes he had described as regional water supplies designed to supply high population areas.
‘Osun is ready to join the league of states partnering with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and multilateral bodies to upgrade some of our water works. We will submit proposals for Iwo and Ede water projects. We also seek accelerated action on the ongoing Ile- Ife project’ the Governor stated.
Responding, the Water Resources Minister, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar expressed the readiness of the Ministry to meet the technical committee from Osun state to iron out issues delaying the project while agreeing with the Governor that the contractor had failed to perform in line with contractual obligations.
The Minister noted that the Islamic Development Bank has chosen to re-advertise the contract because of the non-performance of the contractor, pledging to open up on the details when the state committee arrives in Abuja.
He however lamented the pollution of the water source at Ilesa by activities of gold miners, urging the state to intensify its efforts at sanitizing the mining environment.
On international and federal interventions for Ede and Iwo water works, the Minister requested for technical proposals, listing many ongoing areas of involvement that favour brown fields waterworks like that of Ede and Iwo.
He also said the Ile- Ife water works project is billed for completion before the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari administration ends on May 29- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
