Ilesa Water Project Will Be Ready Soon – Osun Govt

Osun State Government has restated that it is working to complete the multi-billion naira Ilesa Water Project.

This is as it expressed readiness to address concerns raised by adjoining communities in installing effective water control systems to address issues of erosion and degradation of land.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Sunday Oroniyi, stated this when he received the Community of Practice (CoP) of Project Trust on an advocacy visit.

Oroniyi noted that the Ilesa Water Project is progressing, with the transmission means and booster station at 95% completion and the company reservoir at 94.6%.

The CoP members presented the concerns raised by the Aralopon Community, Ilesa, which include poor road networks, inadequate youth employment, and drainage system issues that has been worsened due to the abandoned Ilesa Water Project, which its reservoir is located in the community.

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Oroniyi added that CoP that the government’s intervention had already improved the roads significantly compared to their prior condition, explaining that local youths could not meet the technical criteria required for engineering roles in the project, while some were temporarily engaged, and a lack of commitment led to their dismissal.

A statement released after the visit said, “In response to the drainage system issues, the Ministry of Water Resources emphasised that the obstruction of drainage channels was attributed to land sold and developed by the community after the project’s commencement.

“However, the Ministry of Lands is currently addressing this matter. The government plans to install an AC pipe to improve drainage connectivity and resolve the challenges.”

While thanking the Commissioner and the Ministry Officials for welcoming the CoP members, Oladeji Alabi, a member of the CoP, presented a Freedom of Information (FOI) request letter to the Commissioner.

According to Alabi, the letter requests information regarding the funds deployed and details of project activities and will allow citizens to know more about the project when building their trust in governance in the state.

The CoP team also visited the Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) headquarters in Osogbo where it highlighted issues of dilapidated school infrastructure across the state.

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Responding, the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Yahaya Bakare, noted that the board was currently under audit by several federal agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, making it a challenging time to address external requests.

CoP team also visited the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board to discuss issues surrounding the Akede Iyaloja Primary Health Centre in Osogbo and present an FOI request regarding procurement processes for its renovation.

Recall that Connected Development flagged off Project Trust in Osun State, setting a foundation for activists, People With Disabilities (PWD), journalists, and youth-based organisations to engage the Osun State Government and advocate for transparency and accountability on public projects in the state.

These visits aimed to address pressing community concerns and improve citizen-government relations through dialogue and actionable resolutions.