Osun Assembly Urges Ministry To Review Agreement On Freedom Park

By Israel Afolabi

The State of Osun House of Assembly has called on the state’s Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative Industries and Empowerment to do a critical review of concessionaire agreement on Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo.

Chairman, House Committee on Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Nurein Adebisi made the call on Thursday while speaking after an assessment tour of the park as part of the oversight functions of the state legislature.

Adebisi observed that Nelson Mandela Freedom park is situated in the central part of Osogbo in other to beautify the state capital.

He frowned at the present condition of the park with the overgrown bushes in the area and the unbefitting entrance to the park.

According to him, “this is a project that is situated in the central part of the state capital. We must ensure that government infrastructures are functioning properly well”.

He said that the purpose of the committee’s visit is to observe the state of the park as a source of revenue for the state government.

The lawmaker therefore urged Britol Engineering Company, handlers of the project to redesign the entrance of the park to add to its aesthetics.

He said: “we need to give a new approach to this project to complement government’s effort because it is a laudable legacy that has helped transformed the face of the state capital”.

He therefore urged the concessionaire to put some things in order to make the place more attractive to the public, thus, the maintenance of the park is very essential.

In his contribution, a member of the committee, Hon. Olatunji Babatunde said that it is a luxurious project in the state capital which must be properly managed and also commended the efforts and vision of those who put the magnificent park in place for Osun people and visiting citizens.

The project coordinator, Britol Engineering Company, Engr. Dapo Oyedele in company of the Director-General, Osun New Towns and Growth Area Development Authority, Arc. Muyiwa Ige took the committee to the Atewogbeja Water Fountain at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park to assess the situation of the place.

The lawmakers however were not satisfied with the way weeds grew around most part of the park and urged the company to work more on its beautification to make it more attractive.