Benefiting communities in Ibadanland have expressed joy as the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) handed over the selected contractors for its next round of civil works to them.
The affected communities where the handover had been done so far are Abonde/Apete Awowo in Ona Ara LGA, Ebenzery and Ogbere-Moradeyo both in Egbeda LGA, and Alaro Poly in Ido LGA, all in Ibadan Metropolis.
While handing over the representatives of the contracting firm, Messrs Idmon Engineering Construction Ltd and the Supervising Consultants on the works, Messrs Pherman Peniel Nigeria Ltd, the IUFMP Project Coordinator, Mr Dayo Ayorinde remarked that the community engagement exercise was informed by the need to create a smooth and rancour-free environment for the construction works towards achieving qualitative and timely delivery of the jobs. He paid glowing tributes to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for his vision, foresight and commitment to the ideals of finding lasting and comprehensive solution to the perennial menace of flooding in Ibadan and the entire state.
Also, Mr Ayorinde was full of praises to the World Bank officials on IUFMP for their unwavering dedication and cutting-edge professionalism since the inception of the project.
At each of the communities, the joy of the residents knew no bounds, as they recounted the untold hardships, risks and losses they had suffered in the past years, owing to the damaged bridges and culverts which were ravaged by the unprecedented flood event of 26th August, 2011, leading to disconnection of adjoining communities. They promised to give maximum support and total cooperation to the contractors and supervising consultants on the job, adding that it would be in their overall best interests to do so.
The 13 Priority Sites were among the sites initially identified for prompt reconstruction of hydraulic devices on account of the severe damage done to the existing ones in the aftermath of the ravaging flood of August, 2011. Preceding these were the IUFMP 4 Priority Sites at Shasha-Osajin, Ola-Adua (both in Ido LGA), Cele-Rainbow and Ogbere-Pegba (in Oluyole LGA) which had since been completed and delivered to the communities.
Also in attendance at the respective handover ceremonies were representatives of the relevant and key line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, Ministry of Works & Transportation, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA).
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
