13/08/2020
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF OSOPADEC, HON. (BARR.) OLUGBENGA EDEMA ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF 45.61KM WATER RISING MAINS AND PIPELAYING ALONG IGBOKODA – UGBONLA ROAD HELD ON THURSDAY 13TH DAY OF AUGUST 2020.
Protocols.
Let me humbly welcome Mr. Governor, the Kabiyesis and the entire people of Ilaje Local Government Area to this epoch-making ceremony and to also congratulate them on the occasion of the commissioning of this water project. We must give thanks to God who has allowed this project to come to fruition inspite of all the hiccups that bedevilled the project throughout all the period of the ex*****on. To God be the Glory.
Let me also use this opportunity to appreciate Mr. Governor for his kind support for the actualisation of this project through his approvals and timeous release of funds leading to the completion of this project which we are commissioning today.
Contrary to the usual conduct or belief among political office holders, Mr. Governor did not perceive this project as having been conceived and begun by his predecessors. Mr. Governor put in all his support for the actualisation of this project. His words were usually that the project must be sustained for the benefit of Ilaje people. Once again, I thank you Mr. Governor.
Mr Governor, it is instructive to note that there were two contracts involved in this water development scheme. The first contract in this Lot was the construction of Raw Water Intake (Two million gallons per day) and Water Treatment Facility at Aboto, awarded to Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited in November 2014 at a total contract sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Naira, Seven Kobo (N1,970,922,817.07). This contract was completed and commissioned at the twilight of the last administration.
The second contract is the construction of 45.61 km Water Rising Mains and Pipe Laying along the Igbokoda–Ugbonla Road Project, awarded to Messrs CRCC Construction Company Limited at a contract sum of Two Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Two Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-Six Naira, Sixty Kobo (N2,378,262,265,636.60), which we are today gathered at the threshold of history to commission.
Before this initiative, there had been attempts by the Ondo State Government and various Government agencies: Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Directorate of Food, Road and Rural Infrastructures, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide potable water for the people of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas through drilling of boreholes, reverse osmosis and so on but all these initiatives proved abortive inspite of huge amount of money expended. Today, more than 80% of the entire population of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas still live without potable water. The situation is still like the verses of the Ancient Mariner “Water, water everywhere but not a single drop to drink.”
After the commissioning of this phase I of the pipe laying and reticulation project, the next phase in the design of the project is for the ex*****on of the phase II (Ugbonla- Ayetoro) and phase III (Alape junction-Araromi Seaside) to commence in earnest. We therefore humbly solicit the assistance of Mr. Governor in this regard for the benefit of our teeming population.
Mr. Governor, the water emanating from the project that you are about to commission today have gone through all necessary tests and have been declared fit for human consumption. A robust architecture for maintenance of the project has been put in place for sustainability.
May I humbly invite Mr. Governor to kindly step out to commission this project to the glory of God and for the benefit of humankind.
Thank you and God bless.
