Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has ordered a thorough probe into the decade-long $106 million Ilesa water project.
Engineer Tawa Williams, a former Special Assistant to former governor Rauf Aregbesola, was also suspended immediately by Governor Adeleke.
During the commissioning of the N48.7 billion water project in December 2017, Aregbesola stated that the project would be finished in 24 months and that the 60,000 cubic metres will deliver water to Ilesa communities and surrounding areas.
However, despite stated disbursements of N10 billion and another $28 million, the project has not exhibited any corresponding development five years later, according to a statement by Governor Adeleke’s spokeswoman, Olawale Rasheed.
The governor’s instruction followed the interim report of the State’s Assets Recovery Committee, which was chaired by Dr Basiru Salami.
The committee recommended quick measures to prevent additional wasting of monies received to carry out the water project.
He grimaced at the large-scale corruption evident in the loan and project management, an action he regretted had deprived the inhabitants of Ilesa and its environs of drinkable water.
“My administration will investigate this subject thoroughly. The massive fund in question is a loan that must be returned.
“It is our sacred obligation to ensure accountability and openness in the management of the fund and the project,” Senator Adeleke stated.
According to the committee’s interim report, the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, agreed to fund the project to the tune of $65 million, with the Federal Government contributing $41.94 million.
“So far, a total of $27.073 million has been expended from the IDB loan of $65 million, leaving a balance of $37.926 million,” it said.
“However, N10 billion had allegedly been spent on the project from the Federal Government loan of $41.94 million, which the consultant had converted to N12 billion, leaving a balance of N2 billion.”
In accordance with the committee’s advice, the governor also suspended the project coordinator to enable for an unrestricted review of the loan administration, while the consultant was told to return to government the N70 million bulletproof jeep she was in possession of.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has dissolved the state’s mining Joint Task Force (JTF) with immediate effect.
“As a follow-up to the disbandment, the governor has issued fresh instructions for the restoration of the JTF,” it said.
“I subsequently direct the Chairman of the Solid Mineral Committee to take appropriate actions to facilitate seamless transition from the old to the new JTF.
“When formed, the new team must operate with the utmost professionalism and zero tolerance for wrongdoing,” the governor said.
