The Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) has debunked the ongoing rumour that the Oyo Government diverted the money meant for Ibadan flood control to an Ogun State Bank Account.
The agency added the news is campaign of calumny meant to distract the people of the state.
Recall that a news outlet recently published that the Oyo state government had diverted $25 million meant for the continuation of Ibadan flood control and bridge damage to an Ogun State bank account.
Responding to this in a signed rejoinder, made available to the newsmen, the Communication Consultant, IUFMP, Abiodun Adefioye said the agency is responding to the false claim for the sake of the well-meaning citizens of Oyo State, especially the keen stakeholders of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) who see the Project as a veritable platform to secure their lives and livelihoods against the vagaries of perennial flooding in the city of Ibadan.
He said,
“Now to the issues raised. First, the reporter claimed that the World Bank about two weeks ago released another $25million for the continuation of the projects [IUFMP] for flood controls and damaged bridges across Ibadanland, part of which had been wired to an Ogun State Bank account for unknown reason. While drawing down monies from the funder is an acceptable standard practice in the operations of projects funded by multi-lateral agencies, it beats ones imagination why a newspaper worth its name would not come up with details of the Ogun State Bank account where the money in question had been wired.”
“Anyone familiar with the Ibadan terrain would readily attest to the fact that in recent times, IUFMP has opened up some completed bridges and culverts to ease the movement of motorists, commuters and pedestrians. Some of the beneficiary-locations are Apete; Ajibode Road by NISER; Ladoke Akintola Road, New Bodija; Orogun-Agbowo Road; Adekile; Labo; and Barracks by Irepodun/Kajorepo Community off Ojoo Expressway. As at now, work is nearing completion at Akinwumi-Odewenwa by Ile Marun off Iwo Road and at Jerusalem Culvert along Ojoo Arulogun Road.”
He also stated that beyond the above giant strides, the Project has been on an upward swing in delivering many more interventions, including bridges, culverts, channelization of rivers.
He added further,
“The four Lots that the reporter cited in his piece have been awarded and the contractors are all geared to ramp up performance, more so as we gradually inch towards the construction-clement weather of the dry season. If, therefore, there is any reason to be in the news again this week, it should be for these transformative works that are either already being delivered or at varying stages of completion, rather than this distractive, deceptive and diversionary report, which is nothing but a lie from the pit of hell!”
While responding to the second allegation that the Labo bridge being done from the said loan, was criticized for lacking quality and the width needed to make the road motorists and commuters friendly.
He said,
“Thiis is evidently another hatchet job of an enemy of the people disguising as a friend. Labo Area near Oranyan in Ibadan South-East LGA is markedly a heavily built-up area in the heart of the sprawling city of Ibadan. Residents and commuters around the area know the extent and expanse of the road pre-intervention. Could it then be fathomed that IUFMP would do a bridge that would fall short of the existing one in terms of dimensions, scope and quality?”
He also stated that UFMP has a track record of delivering world-class bridges and culverts dating back to its inception. The evidences are visible for all to see across Ibadan Metropolis, from the bridges at Odo-Ona Elewe (Believers Stream) and Ogbere-Pegba in Oluyole LGA; to Ogbere-Moradeyo and Ebenezery Bridges in Egbeda LGA; to Shasha-Osajin and Ola-Adua Culverts in Ido LGA; to Abonde-Ogbere Bridge in Ona Ara LGA to Isokun Culvert in Akinyele LGA. The rehabilitated Eleyele Dam is a spectacle to behold. All these and our ongoing interventions are done to international specifications and best practices, which are a product of serious-minded hydrological, hydrographical and engineering studies. The Labo Bridge is no exception to these standards.
Meanwhile, he warned the author of the rumour to desist from spreading what is not true, that Governor Seyi Makinde deserves accolades instead of spreading rumours
“Without necessarily usurping the roles of the spokespersons of His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, we think he deserves accolades, rather than flaks, for deciding to continue all the well-intentioned projects and programmes of Oyo State, regardless of who initiated them, in the overall best interest of the State.
“We, therefore, do hope that this writer and his ilk would desist from this tendency to cry wolf when there is none, and allow IUFMP and indeed the Oyo State Government concentrate on the all-important task of making life more abundant and meaningful for the good people of Oyo State.”
