Aregbesola Inaugurates Osun Most Expensive Project In History Of The State

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday flags-off the biggest singular project‎ since the creation of the state with the N48.7Billion Ilesa water supply and sanitation project.

The water project with 60,000 cubic meter when completed in 24 months will supply water to residents of Ilesa and its environs effectively on a daily basis.

The Governor at the ceremony noted that the project which will gulp a total of 48.7b naira when fully completed is the largest single project in the whole of Western region.

Aregbesola who went down memory lane said he had approached the Islamic Development Bank for assistance on the project as far back as 2011, said he is happy that the project is coming to reality.

He explained that the project which will be completed by December 2019 is funded with the support of the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank as well as the federal government of Nigeria.

“I am happy this is happening today, because the state has been on it for a long time.

“This journey started as far back as 2011when I went to the Islamic Development Bank for financial assistance on the project and I am happy it is a reality today.

“I am proud to say that this water project is the largest singular project in the whole of western region, the project when fully completed would have gulped a total of 48.7billion naira.

“When completed, it will be able to supply at least 60million litres of water of water per day”. The Governor stated.

Aregbesola explained that every land owner whose land will be affected by the project have been compensated to the tune of 57 million naira, while calling on indigenes of Ilesa and environs to show cooperation and hospitality to the contractors.

While explaining that the distribution network which is the final phase of the project will cost about 15.3 billion naira, Aregbesola called on private investors to come forward and invest in the distribution process of the water scheme.

He said through this and other sources, the final phase of the project will be completed in due cause.

“The distribution network after this installation will still cost about 15.3b naira, so I am calling on private investors to come forward and invest in the project for commercial purpose.

“I assure that it will be a win-win situation for all parties involved”. He said.

Earlier, Senior Consultant to Osun Governor on Water Resources, Engr.Mrs Tawakalitu Williams explained that the project is part of the move to actualize one of the key points of the administration’s integral action plans which is the provision if healthy living.

She noted that the commencement of the project is a landmark achievement as successive governments have tried frantically in the past to achieve it without success.

The immediate past Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources explained that the project when completed will be run on full commercial basis with a view to generating income for the government of Osun.

“We are happy that this project is finally happening, many governments have tried to do it but failed. We thank God that the Aregbesola administration has been able to break a thirty years jinx.

“This project is another testimony to the fact that this administration is promise keeping one, the government has promised to provide healthy living to the people of he state and this is it in motion.

“When completed, the water distribution will be done in commercial manner as it will be an avenue for the government to generate funds the progress of Osun.

“”This project when completed will go a long way in improving the socio-economic status of the people of this great state. ” Mrs Williams explained.

In a goodwill message, the Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran commended the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for bringing such a project to the land even at a time of financial constraints.

The Royal father noted that the move has gone a long way to underline the fact that the Governor truly has the development and well being of the people at heart.

He said, “I want to seriously commend you for coming up with this at this time when every government in the country is facing financial challenges.

“It is only a government that has genuin love for the people that will embark on this laudable project at this time.

“A lazy governor that has nothing to offer could easily hide under the guise of the financial hardship of the country and decide not to do anything in his final year in office.

“But Aregbesola is not doing that, instead he is continuously thinking of how to leave Osun better than the way he met it.