..govt is economical with the truth
By Jide Ojuri
Many who don’t know the plight of Ogun state Water Corporation, and the effect of dry water taps in the state will give the state government applause for partnering with French Development Agency (AFD), the question remains, will that solve the problem?
I will like to congratulate Alhaja Olufunmilayo Jaji, the acting General Manager for her leadership and administrative acumen, during the period of leadership vacuum at the corporation.
However, it is very shameful that the corporation have not worked for more than 8 months since the power supply of the corporation have been disconnected, and it has no alternative power supply at the Arakanga water plant.
It’s obvious that the road construction in the state before this administration came to power destroyed the water distribution network, and the corporation had huge debt with the Ibadan Electric Distribution Company (IBEDC), but its unfortunate that Prince Dapo Abiodun administration was unable to provide any meaningful solution for 4 years.
What is the essence of renovation of water plants and buying few chemicals to supply water for few days, with the intention to deceive the public, when the work force are short staffed with unstable remuneration.
According to the the Task Team Leader of the AFD, Mr. Gilard, “The project focuses on Abeokuta and all the infrastructure has been built and ready to operate. It is now for the Corporation and State government to provide the needed running funds to start operation.”
It is ridiculous to believe that the government that could not pay power supply bill or buy chemicals for water production, probably because of lack of accountability of the corporation revenue generation, will now fund such project. The reported completed project must be a mirage to deceive the public and keep the corporation in total neglect for the next four years.
It is so unfortunate that the government looked away from the causes of the inactive of the corporation, which was damaged infrastructure and unaccounted revenue by some of the management team, which majority have retired now.
During the end of Senator Amosun administration, huge amounts of money was released to change some of those infrastructures affected by the road construction, but it went down into private pockets and the government looked away.
Three years ago when the present administration looked at the direction of providing water supply to Abeokuta metropolis, it was presented with huge debts and administrative infractions . Till now, nothing was heard about it.
Ironically, the people can not be deceived on the reasons why water is not running on public water taps, besides majority in the urban communities have provided alternative by constructing borehole for their water supply.
I hope the project will make use of the existing water network, or will it lay its water pipe in the sky?
Ojuri writes from Abeokuta, Ogun state.