In the last few months, there have been diverse opinions and justifiable apprehension as to the possible realisation and completion of this arguably longest project in Nigeria which after 45 years still remains uncompleted!
RELEVANT STORY:👇
THE HISTORY OF ILESA WATER PROJECT: Photos from the Official Flag-off Ceremony
In the last three months, as a follow up to the letter I wrote to His Excellency, Asiwaju Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke dated on Thursday, 8th June, 2023 titled ILESA WATER PROJECT: IJESA PASSIONATELY APPEAL TO HIS EXCELLENCY FOR ITS COMPLETION, my findings at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja; Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja; Islamic Development Bank (IsDB); Osun State Ministry of Water Resources; Osun State Ministry of Finance; Osun State Water Corporation; Project Consultants; and Project Contractors revealed improved hope of the possibility of not only witnessing the completion of the Water Project in our life time but most likely in the life time of this current administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State. Reasons for my hope?
APPRAISAL OF THE STATUS OF THE WATER PROJECT
The Ilesa Water Supply and Sanitation Project which had its origin in Chief Bola Ige's administration (1979-1983) and was later renewed during Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola Administration precisely in 2008 when it attracted $65m loan taken by Osun State Government from Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and later a grant of $42m from the Federal Government totalling $107m till date. The Project has key components, namely;
1. Installation of 60 million litres per day Water Treatment Plant at Kajola, Osun State. This contract was awarded initially in 2019 to Henan Water Consultancy Nigeria Ltd and Sagittarius Nigeria Ltd. Status: Due to the poor quality of job performance by the Contractor, the contract was terminated which resulted in a long legal battle between the State Government and the Contractor. In the judgement delivered on the case last week, the Contractor lost and Osun State Government won. So, the Water Treatment Plant is yet to be constructed! This Design, Build, and Operate (DBO) 60 million per day Water Treatment Plant is the life wire of the entire Ilesa Water Project under the jurisdiction of Osun State Government. The good news for Ijesaland, which my investigation reveals, is that the Administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is putting in an uncommon zeal and commitments to ensure that this strategic facility is constructed and completed during his tenure in office. At this juncture, it is most appropriate to appreciate both the State Commissioner for Water Resources Mr Olufemi Oroniyi who has turned Ilesa Water Project to his topmost priority, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Olusola Ogungbile whom duo have been sparring no efforts on daily basis to follow up on this project. And of course, we duly note the cooperation of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) who has been graciously extending the lifespan of the credit for the Water Treatment Plant. Similarly extend our gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Finance Abuja in supporting the realization of the Project.
2. Construction of raw water intake facility at Kajola. This is a Federal Government component that was awarded in 2014 to RCC and completed in 2016. Status: Findings revealed that the raw water supply volume from this lake is grossly inadequate to feed an all year round supply of raw water to the proposed Water Treatment Plant. Further investigation reveals that this gap in supply arose from the sharp difference between what was in the original raw water intake facility design and what was eventually delivered on completion. It was discovered that the all important Operational Reservoir built in the original design was missing in what was eventually executed. However, thank God for the visit of the Honorable Minister of Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Prof Joseph Utsev who in the course of his visit to the Kajola site of the raw water intake facility on Wednesday 21st August 2024 observed this gap with a promise to redress. The gratitude of Ijesa shall remain eternal because the activities so far initiated by the Honorable Minister since that visit which are being monitored indicates the seriousness and commitment of the Hon. Minister to urgently, diligently, and permanently address this issue of missing Operational Reservoir.
3. Construction of 34 kilometers Water Transmission Mains plus the Booster Pump Station from Kajola to Ilesa. This Contract was awarded in 2017 to Messrs Gamji Nigeria Company Ltd. And it is currently at 94% completion.
4. Construction of Gravity Reservoirs namely 2 units of 10,000m3; 1 unit of 6,000m3; and I unit of 500m3 at different locations in Ilesa urban area. This was awarded to Messrs Gamji Nigeria Company Ltd in 2017 and currently at 94% completion.
5. Installation of Network of Pipe Reticulation in Ilesa Urban Area and it's environs, house connection and metering system. This is 100% completed.
6. Building of Osun State Water Corporation Administration Headquarters and associated facilities in Osogbo.
7. Construction of Water Sanitation Facilities.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYERS
From the breakdown of Ilesa Water Project components above, there are three areas that are critical and crucial for the completion of this project, namely:
1. The Water Treatment Plant. A major delay in moving forward on this component was the long protracted Court case between the sacked Water Treatment Contractor and the State Government. Now that the case has been determined and dismissed by the Court last week, we expect that the Osun State Government will urgently take advantage of this conducive environment to hit the ground running on its construction and completion. Thank God both the Federal Ministry of Finance and IsDB are willing and ready to support the State Government in actualising this Water Treatment Plant.
2. Operational Reservoir at Kajola. The only way to guarantee that the designed Water Treatment Plant is able to generate 60 million litres of treated water per day for the consumption of Ilesa metropolis is to ensure that the raw water intake facility is constructed to its original design with a provision of Operational Reservoir at the raw water intake facility whose responsibility falls under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Abuja. I need to appreciate HRH Oba (Dr) Adetayo Haastrup who facilitated my online meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday 11th September 2024. My findings also revealed that the Honorable Minister Prof Joseph Utsev has instructed that the construction of the Operational Reservoir be captured in the 2025 Budget of the Ministry. We need to follow up with our eminent and distinguished Ijesa representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives to ensure that this request receives the statutory approval of both houses.
3. The Menace of Mining Activities. Appraisal of human activities upstream of the weir and within the surrounding of the Oyile/Osun river has clearly indicated proliferation of mining operations within the basins of the river and it's tributaries. These indiscriminate mining operations on the river upstream of the intake have seriously affected the quality of raw water in the lake. The Osun State Government shall be required to initiate the following interventions in moving forward, namely:
A. The services of a Process Engineer may be necessary to design appropriate treatment plant to cleanse the impurities caused by the mining activities.
B. The State Government is advised to invoke the relevant State Law already in existence to penalise and sanction on the miners still operating in this axis with a view to stop further pollution to the raw water source.
C. In addition to local laboratory testing of the water quality after treatment, the State Government is further advised to explore foreign laboratories for further quality assurance. This is to avoid associated health hazards emanating from the pollution.
SUSTAINING THE COMMITMENTS OF GOV. ADEMOLA ADELEKE
From the investigation and findings conducted, one is highly impressed with the enthusiasm, zeal, and commitments of His Excellency towards the materialisation of Ilesa Water Project thus far.
We sincerely hope that this business approach and personal commitment will be sustained and ultimately lead to eventual completion of this 45-year old Ilesa Water Project and thus being credited for not allowing the whopping sum of N171B (One Hundred and Seventy-One Billion Naira expended on this project becomes a COLOSSAL WASTE OF SCARCE RESOURCE.
Who knows? His Excellency, Senator Asiwaju Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke may be the Messiah Ijesaland has been waiting for to provide them with clean, drinkable, potable 60 million litres per day of water through the successful completion of Ilesa Water Project.
Time will Tell!
History will Capture!
AND TO OUR IJESA AMBASSADORS
Who says you cannot share in the glory of successful completion of Ilesa Water Project?
We know you have the capacity, influence, network, wherewithal, and connections to make Ilesa Water Project happen through you!
Won't you rather deploy ALL now for the sake of the welfare of your people at home?
Ijesas are proud of their worthy Ambassadors and are very optimistic that you ALL individually and collectively shall not disappoint the tremendous hope reposed in you.
We plead with our Distinguished Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi; our Honourable Members of Parliament Hon. Sanya Omirin and Hon. Wole Oke that Ijesas can absolutely place their trust in you in ensuring that the budget for the construction of Operational Reservoir is captured and passed at the National Assembly.
Ijesas home and abroad cherish our revered Ijesa Compatriots in Abuja, namely, Barr. Henry Femi Osobu, Dr Charles Akinola Prince Seyi Lufadeju, Her Excellency Aminat Titi Atiku-Abubakar, Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade, Prof Foluso Okunmadewa, Engr Folorunso Esan, Prof (Mrs) Moji Adeyeye, Her Excellency Amb. Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi, Sir Dupe Nathaniel Longe, Prince Samson Adebanjo Ataiyero, HRM Oba Dr Adetayo Haastrup; Col (Dr) Akin Moses, HRM Oba Joseph Adebayo Adebanjo, Dr Akin Fapohunda, Engr Segun Okebiorun, Engr Yemi Oguntominiyi, Dr Kayode Olagunju, Arc. Gbenga Akintola, Dr Olabanjo Obaleye, Engr Adebisi Anjorin, Hon. Remi Omowaiye, and Mr Tayo Awodiya.
Ijesas are very optimistic that you would pull your individual and collective weights behind the delivery of the Federal Government component in this project in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Finance, IsDB, National Assembly, and the Presidency.
At the home front we are very proud of our juggernaut and men and women of timber and caliber whom God has endowed us with in Ijesaland to assist in keep reminding our Excellency Gov Ademola Adeleke not to slow down on his zeal, enthusiasm, commitments, and leadership in delivering the Osun State component of the Ilesa Water Project which is the construction of the Water Treatment Plant and cleansing of the polluted raw water lake by the miners.
Who says Ijesas are not influencial in this Osun State Government?
Our cherished and adored Ijesa Compatriots are ready to prove any doubting Thomases wrong!
We give glory to the Almighty God for the blessings of Hon. Sunday Bisi, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi, Her Excellency Erelu Dr Olusola Obada, Chief Ebenezer Babatope,Hon. Ibukun Fadipe, Hon. Dosu Babatunde, Hon. Jola Akintola, Hon. Tola Faseru, Dr Wale Bolorunduro, and Chief Lai Oriowo, to Ijesaland and in whom we trust that shall manifest your wish in supporting our Excellency Gov Ademola Adeleke in the completion and delivery of Ilesa Water Project to the joy, happiness, and admiration of Ijesa people.
Nipa Iranlowo Oluwa Ati Awon Ogo Ijesa Ti O Wa Ni Abuja Ati Ipinle Osun, Oju Ko Ni Ti Ile-Ijesa L'ori Ilesa Water Project!
Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi,
The Asiwaju Of Ijesaland,
Oke Baba Okuta Villa, Ilesa.
22nd September, 2024.
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