Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, have concluded plans to jointly rehabilitate and reconstruct the Iwo Road interchange- to Ogunremako Junction-Lalupon, down to Iwo-Osogbo road.
The road is a major link between the neighbouring Southwest states.
The Commissioners for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport in Oyo State, Professor Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin and his Osun State counterpart, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, jointly announced the historic collaboration on Monday at a press conference held at the Oyo State Ministry of Works and Transport, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Professor Sangodoyin and Engineer Omowaiye said the development would enhance the quality of lives of the people.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Sangodoyin as explaining that Oyo State would handle 29.2 kilometres of the over 80 kilometres road project.
Prof. Sangodoyin stated that a section of the road belongs to the Federal Government, while other parts belong to the states, adding that the Federal Government had been notified of the impending construction.
State Commissioners for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport also noted that Oyo State would take care of the section from the Iwo Road Interchange, Ibadan, to the boundary with Osun State, while Osun State would handle rest to Osogbo.
He said: “On the authority of Governor, Seyi Makinde and Governor Gboyega Oyetola, we are here to address the press on the joint collaboration of the proposed rehabilitation; reconstruction and overlaying of Iwo Road interchange road to Ogunremako junction, down to Lalupon, which is the boundary between Osun and Oyo States.
“On the other end of Osun State, we have the Iwo boundary down to Osogbo, which is about 69km. From the side of Oyo State, it is about 29.2km.
“The two-state governors, their directors and commissioners in charge of works and transport have met and did a joint inspection of the road for the benefit of our people, and for us to be able to award the contract.”
According to Sangodoyin, the project sits right within the agenda of the Governor Makinde-led administration to take Oyo State people from poverty to prosperity and to build infrastructure that targets the economy of the state.
“One of the major benefits of the project is regional integration, using that axis. For the two states, agriculture is the only comparative advantage. So, in expanding the economy of the two states, we have to focus on agriculture and food security, and that is why we want to tap into the resources on that axis and contribute to what we call the Domestic Resource Flow, while expanding the economy.
“Also, we looked at security around that axis. By the time we reduce the infrastructure deficit around that axis, we would have improved on the security infrastructure, because, as I speak now, the road from Iwo down to Olodo is nothing to write home about.
“If we are able to cooperate with Osun State, we will be able to improve the security infrastructure.
“We are also focusing on ease-of-doing-business. There will be ease of movement of goods from Osogbo down to Ibadan. By the time we complete the project at Iwo Road, the 29.2km road and 5.5km road to Airport, Adegbayi road, we believe that it will contribute to business development around that axis.
“So, today, we felt we should come around and tell the whole world that we are brothers and are ready to partner to improve the means of livelihood of our own people.
“We have commenced the processes of awarding the Iwo Road interchange to Lalupon, the boundary between the two states and have sectionalised it into three parts.
“The first part is from Iwo Road interchange to Olodo bridge, which is 7.7km and the stretch of the bridge, which we are going to dualise, is 500 metres; from Ogunremako junction to Lalupon, which is 20.3km. In all, we are working on a 29.2km stretch and within the next few weeks, we should be able to award the contract. The two governors will come together to flag it off in due time,” Sangodoyin added.
In his remarks, the Osun State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Omowaiye, said that the Osun State government would handle 54.4km of the road that borders Oyo and Osun States.
He said: “Just like he ( his Oyo State counterpart ) said, we are brothers. For the two governors, what is important is the development of our race. Bad infrastructure does not know APC or PDP. If you look at that road, you can see an alignment of 5km stretch and that is the easiest route to Ibadan. About a year ago, we started a discussion on the need to collaborate and the two governors graciously agreed.
“We all know that the two states are agrarian states and this development will allow for easy movement of agric produce on that corridor.
“Oyo State will be doing 29.2km while we will be doing 54.4km. We are taking it from Deleyesa in Osogbo to the boundary of Oyo State. “We are sending a message to the people that irrespective of party affiliation, we are brothers and the development of our states is of utmost importance.
“I can tell you we have not brought politics into this. What we want is good infrastructure. This is a good thing for the two states, which will promote commerce and agriculture as well as make movement between residents of the two states easy.”
The duo hinted that the project, upon completion, will enhance socio-economic activities, boost security and ease movement of people and goods between the two states. They added that Oyo and Osun governments would meet again to deliberate on modalities of executing the project, amount to spend, duration and the contractor that would handle.
In January 2019, Osun State Government received a $20 million grant from Federal Government-World Bank “Programme for Result” “PforR”, a health intervention programme following the state’s success in the previous intervention project.
The programme supports the government’s existing “Save One Million Lives” (SOML) initiative by providing incentives based on the achievement of health outcomes and helping to drive the institutional process needed to achieve them.
In March 2019, during the launch of the programme, the state governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, said the money would be used to rehabilitate six Secondary Health facilities and 332 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) noting that these are spread across the state’s 30 local government areas (LGAs), with one per ward.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, noted that drugs worth over 200 million naira would be provided for the PHCs as well as motorised boreholes.
However, over two years after receiving the funds, rehabilitation of 17 of the PHCs are yet to be completed, while most of those completed are already calling for attention due to poor, incomplete and shoddy work.
In addition, according to World Bank report number RES45418, the project with Nigeria ended in January 2021.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent, Adenitan Akinola, presents the situation in this report of an investigation supported by John D and Catherine T McArthur Foundation and the International Center for Investigative Reporting.
Mr Kazeem Abolade is a commercial motorcyclist operating at Ako Park in Ikire.
He took Radio Nigeria correspondent to Odeyinka Primary Health Center, In Odeyinka Community of Irewole Local Government.
In the course of the 21 kilometres ride on his motorcycle to Odeyinka, he narrated how he almost lost his wife sometime in April during childbirth due to the absence of electricity in Odeyinka PHC.
Figure 1Images 1, 2 and 3 of PHC in Ido Osun in Egbedore LG. Poorly done toilets, floors, borehole not functioning. The borehole extension for community use was also not done by the contractor Rigomich Integrated Company Ltd.
Mr Abolade explained that, while one of the health workers managed to use the light of their mobile phone to illuminate the delivery ward, the other was devising means to contain the water from the leaking roof in the wake of the torrential downpour.
On getting to the health centre, one of the female health workers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed Abolade’s story as she took our reporter round the facility complaining about the shoddy execution by the contractor.
Figure 2 Images 1-4 : PHC Odeyinka, Ayedaade LG awarded to Abisco Global Concept. The installed borehole not functioning, roofs leaking, toilet soakaway is crashing, and only 4 beds are functional.
During the inspection of the facility awarded to Abisco Global Concept, it was observed that four locations were leaking from the roof. Furthermore, the newly sunk borehole was not functioning, the mosquito net was not properly fixed, no new ceiling fans, the two beds in the hospital had been acquired a year earlier under another programme, no utility room for staff on night duty, the toilet soak away is already broken in two.
This situation was not different at some of the completed PHCs visited, including Ago Owu, PHC Oke Elu, Wakajaye, Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government awarded to Tera Peco Ventures, Moore PHC in Ife East, awarded to Teejay Genuine services, PHC Ibokun awarded to Dotfam Multi venture, PHC Ilase executed by Olas Salson Investment Ltd in Obokun Local Government and PHC Okinni, Ido Osun in Egbedore Local awarded to Rigomich Integrated com Ltd.
The renovation was done in Moore PHC in Ife East by Teejay Genuine services; however, no borehole was not installed.
At the Ido Osun PHC, a male health worker who took our reporter around the facility said they often drew the attention of the contractor to the shoddy job during the rehabilitation, leading to disagreement between them, until the contractor accused them of not wanting him to make a profit.
Moore PHC in Ife East by renovated by Teejay Genuine services; however borehole was not installed.
The toilet at Ido Osun PHC had collapsed, the flooring, doors and windows were poorly fixed with substandard materials; even though the borehole had been installed, it is not working.
The staff stressed that they personally contributed money to purchase cement to fix the floor and some windows.
Some residents of the communities hosting the health centres told our correspondent that the renovation and reconstruction of the facility was a significant relief for them considering the number of years they had been abandoned.
However, they expressed concerns that some aspects of the newly repaired health centres were already falling apart.
At the Ido Osun PHC in Egbedore Local Government, a pregnant woman, who gave her name as Bashirat, complained of the damaged toilet available for patients visiting the place.
For a nursing mother at the Odeyinka Health Centre, Mrs Foluke Bolade, her worry was the leaking roof which she said had become a nightmare for patients whenever it rained.
Similarly, 17 of the PHCs listed in the government revitalisation project have not been touched as of the time of this investigation.
Some of those visited out of the 17 included Erin oke PHC in Oriade Local Government, Okesa PHC, Egbedi PHC in Ilesa West LG, Ifon in Ifon/Orolu PHC, Iwo PHC in Iwo LG and Ikire PHC in Irewole LG.
Notwithstanding their dilapidated state, the health centres are still operated by officials who told Radio Nigeria they were managing to provide services from what is available.
One of the residents of Erin oke in Oriade Local Government, Mr John Akogun, urged the government to expedite action on the rehabilitation as residents, particularly children and pregnant women, suffered more because the health centre is the only public medical facility in the community.
In an interview, the Coordinator of a Civil Society Organisation in Osun State, Virtues Unlimited, Restorative Justice, VURJ, Mr Wole Oladapo, alleged that the government only awarded the contracts on the basis of patronage, knowing full well that the jobs would not be thoroughly executed.
Mr Oladapo said from the private assessment the CSO carried on some of the projects, it was clear that the execution fell below expectations and what was required to make the health centres functional, durable and meet the needs of the people.
In September, our reporter met with the Osun State Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Engineer Remi Omowaye, who said letters of contract award for the remaining 17 health centres had been issued to the contractors who should move to the sites any moment.
Engr Remi Omowaye, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Osun State.
Engineer Omowaye explained that the delay was deliberate as the government was taking its time to ensure that a thorough job was done and assured that the job would be completed between two to three months.
On whether the government was aware that many of those completed were poorly done, the commissioner said there were two committees set up to monitor the project, adding that the jobs are observed for six months after completion before retention were paid.
The Commissioner for Health, Doctor Rafiu Isamotu, said the project was carried in line with the terms of the SOML grant.
Similarly, the General Manager of the State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Adegboyega Bello, told Radio Nigeria that projects contract for the revitalisation of the primary health centres were awarded to small and medium scale contractors and were thoroughly supervised.
Mr Adegboyega Bello, General Manager, Osun State Public Procurement Agency.
He said part of the measures adopted to ensure good jobs were executed included payment of the contractors in three tranches and retention of 5% of the total sum until six months after the jobs were certified okay.
If the claim of the General Manager of Osun Public Procurement Agency on the quality of Jobs done is anything to go by, the question then is why have some of the hospital facilities gone bad in less than one year after rehabilitation?
Though available documents obtained from government offices in the course of the investigation only revealed the names of the contracting companies and projects assigned to them, their addresses and cost of the projects were not given, neither were they indicated on the signposts the contractors erected at sites of the projects.
The Ido-Osun PHC in Egbedore Local Government was rehabilitated by the Rigomich Integrated company. Google map gave the address as located on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II, Abuja. When an email was sent to its Director, Mr Irigo Michael Eniola at [email protected], he declined to comment on the state of the shoddy work but directed the reporter to the consultant.
An online database of companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission shows that Rigomich Integrated Company Ltd, the contractor that handled the Ido Osun PHC rehabilitation company which was established in 2007 currently has an unknown status while its activities are unspecified as against the provision of the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020.
The directors of the company who are of the same family have their names as Irigo Michael Eniola, Irigo Oluwatoyin and Tolulope Irigo as the Secretary, with its office at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
When an email was sent to its leading Director, Mr Irigo Michael Eniola at [email protected], he declined to comment on the state of the shoddy job but asked this reporter to meet with the consultant.
Similarly, Abisco Global concept that got the Odeyinka PHC, registered in 2011 as a private Unlimited company, has its office at number 49, Alegongo Complex, off Adebayo Alao Akala Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, but its status on through the online database of companies registered CAC reads unknown, while its activity is unspecified; no phone number or email address can be found on the dashboard.
The names of its Directors are given as Oyegbade Akintunde and Oyegbade Adebisi.
Also is Dotfam Multiventures Ltd, to which rehabilitation of Ibokun PHC in Obokun Local Government was awarded; according to the information on the dashboard, the company has three Directors who share a similar surname with the Osun State APC chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun.
The Directors, Adedotun Babajide Famodun, David Adekunle Famodun, Adedapo Adewale Famodun also has two of them as Directors of Dekfam Ltd, a company (registered in 2011) linked to the family of the Party Chairman and got a share of the moribund fire stations contracts hurriedly awarded at the twilight of the administration of Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola when he was governor of Osun State between 2010 and 2018.
Dotfam, though registered in June year 2018 as a Private Limited Company, PLC, with activities in construction, its status is presently unknown, while its address at No 4B, Road 2 Street, Okinini town is difficult to locate as Okinni is in Egbedore Local government, not Osogbo as indicated.
A message of inquiry sent by this reporter to the email of the company was not replied to.
For Teejay Genuine Services that did the rehabilitation of Moore PHC in Ife East Local government, it was registered in 2006 with address at No 4, Social Brothers Building, Ilero Central Market, Ilero Oyo state, but its status and activity on its dashboard read unknown and unspecified.
It has Yusuf Tajudeen Bukola, Yusuf Luqman Adedayo, Yusuf Suliat Opeyemi and Yusuf Rukayat Omolola as directors, while its phone number and email address are unknown.
The Ilase PHC in Obokun Local Government was awarded to Olas Salson Investment Ltd.
The company which was registered in 2006 as a Public Unlimited Company has no specific activity and its current status is unknown.
It has no contact email or telephone number while its address is given as number 1, Sule Salami Street, Osogbo is difficult to trace.
A search through the online data gives its directors names as Sule Salami, Olalere Dayo Salami and Muritala Adebayo.
Wakajaye PHC in Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government was awarded to Tera Peco Ventures, but the name on the dashboard reads Tera & Pico Ventures, located at No 56/58 Laito Street, Oke Iye area, Iwo, Osun State.
The company established in 2009 has no status and activities unknown, while the names of its directors could not be ascertained through the online search.
All the companies investigated in this report have unknown status on the online database of companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
Most of them have no contact address or means of reaching them while others refused to respond to messages sent to their e-mail addresses.
Osun is one of the top-performing states in the SOML project; however, the people want the government to take a second look at the rehabilitation of some of the Primary Health Centers, PHCs and recall contractors handling some of the projects if the state must get sustainable value for the 20 million dollars grant.
Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has presented the 2022 budget estimate of 129.8 billion naira to the State House of Assembly.
Our Correspondent reports that the budget christened “Budget of Sustainable Development” was to consolidate on various developmental projects in all sectors.
The 2022 budget estimates was higher than the year 2021 budget of 109.8 billion naira by 20 billion naira.
The Budget estimates of 129.8 billion naira has as Capital expenditure of 76.2 billion naira, representing 58.70% while 53.6 billion naira representing 41.3% was earmarked for Recurrent expenditure.
Education sector is to take the larger percentage of the the budget which is 26.billion naira while Infrastructure and Health sectors had 19 billion naira and 16 billion naira respectively.
Governor Oyetola explained that the budget would be funded mainly by Revenue from Internally Generated by the state, Federal allocation, Aids and Grants as well as other Capital Receipt.
The Governor who noted that Internally Generated Revenue is crucial to a realistic budget, said the state government would lay emphasis on capital projects especially physical infrastructure to encourage investors.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye had assured that the House would pass a budget estimates that would prioritise the need of the people and guarantee their better welfare.
The Speaker while calling for strengthening of Osun Internal Revenue Service capacity to increase Revenue generation urged the people of the state to pay their tax accurately and timely.
Mr. Owoeye said the State House of Assembly would continue to embark on effective monitoring and oversight to ensure proper to implementation of the 2022 budget.
The Osun State House of Assembly, OSHA, has received the Economic and Fiscal Update, Fiscal Strategy Paper and Budget Policy Statement from the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola.
The Speaker, Mr. Timothy Owoeye during the Plenary, explained that the paper is a review of the last budget performance of the state.
He noted that the paper would provide information on budget process for year 2022 to year 2024.
While commending the lawmakers’ performance at the last budget retreat, the speaker urged his colleagues to make use of knowledge acquired during the retreat to prepare for the forthcoming year’s budget.
He said the fiscal paper was in compliance with Appropriation Law of 2012 which mandated the Ministry of Finance to do the midterm review of budget in the fiscal year.
Mr. Owoeye urged the lawmakers to study the paper and come up with the needful points to work on during the next deliberation.
He then committed the paper to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to give the House full report on the paper.
The governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has directed the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the State, Prince Gboyega Famodun, to discontinue the court case against some chieftains of the party who allegedly invaded the party secretariat with armed thugs during the Ward Congress.
This directive is contained in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, which was made available to newsmen in Osogbo.
The governor, who was away when the incident occurred, had in the wake of the crisis, directed security operatives to take charge of the party secretariat to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
He also condemned what he termed the “unruly behaviour” exhibited by some aggrieved members of the party at the APC Secretariat in Osogbo.
According to the statement, the governor summoned an emergency meeting of the party stakeholders and insisted that as members of the same family, whatever differences that existed could be resolved without necessary resorting to litigation.
Osun State Animal Grazing Regulation and Cattle Ranches Establishment Bill 2021 has passed through the first reading on the floor of the Osun House of Assembly.
The Bill sent from the state Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, seek to regulate and prohibit criminal activities of herdsmen.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye while reading the letter accompanying the bill titled “Osun Animal Gracing Regulation and Cattle Ranches Establishment Bill 2021” explained that the bill seeks to curb clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state, especially in the rural areas.
The Bill according to the Governor is to regulate activities of herdsmen in the state and curb criminality, including rape, carried out by some of them.
The Bill is classified under “Matter of Urgent Public Importance” as the Governor is requesting that it is given accelerated passage.
The House later dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to treat a pending bill “Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill 2020”.
