Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde this Friday commissioned the newly rehabilitated Eleye water dam which had suffered neglect from previous administrations in the state.
Makinde had in September 2019 through the former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, late Kehinde Ayoola at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Information Film Theatre, said, the rehabilitation was essentially targeted at averting failure of the dam.
However, upon assumption of office, Governor Makinde did set up a ‘Project Review Committee’ to look into all abandoned projects by the last administration .
Makinde said, “the project would put a check to the disaster of the perennial flood in Ibadan city and also to boost the supply of potable water to neighbourhood and communities in and around the capital city here.”
“This is one of many investments in flood control access being implemented under the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project ( IUFMP), funding and techical assistance by the World Bank.”
“The last time I had the chance to meet formally with the Management of IUFMP and the representatives of the World Bank was in November 2019.”
“They were having a mid-term review. On that occasion,I had the chance to stress why we chose to continue supporting this project. I reiterated that the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project was a courageous and bold move to ensure that we do not need the history of 26 August, 2011 again.”
“Also, during my electioneering,I told that people that continuity in government is sacrosanct. We will look at the projects started by the past admintration that are beneficial to the people of Oyo State and that are well started.”
“So, this is one example of such projects. And I’m glad that we provided our full support. I was sceptical in the beginning.”
The project manager, Mr. Ayorinde explained “the concept,both the technical and financial concepts of the project. And we agreed that they fast forward. That is what we have done.”
“It is being commissioned today but we have a lot to do. We still have quite a lot to do. We have the channelization of major rivers in the state. These are ongoing.”
“I’m glad that the supervision was not just done by the company from France, but done with the Nigerian partner. That should have given some Nigerian engineers the needed opportunity to get exposure on the project.”
“As we commission this Eleyele Dam, let me remind us that the long-term sustainability of good investment in infrastructural renewal will depend communal and individual efforts. In this environment where you commission projects,then you go there two years later, there is lack of both predictive and preventive maintenance would have turned the place up side down. I want to believe that this project is not going to go of the way of such projects.”
“While our government is committed to regular maintenance of the structure to ensure the gain of this investment are sustained, we expect that individuals will do well not to block the channel”.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinola Ojo, wo lauded the contributions of all stakeholders to the success of the project,called proper maintenance of the facility.
He said:”It behoves us that a legacy project like this, the rehabilitated Eleyele Dam is appreciated for its detailed engineering. The admintration of Engr. Seyi Makinde is committed to maintaining this facility to ensure that it continues to function properly and remains consistently fit for public. This will ensure that the unfortunate loss of lives and property as a result of 2011 Ibadan flood is never repeated in our state and for posterity”.
