The fund, according to World Bank was for the Second Pool of Long-Term Investment (PLT12) implemented under the Ibadan Flood Management Project (IUFMP).

Contained in a July 30 letter to the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, signed by the Country Director for Nigeria, Western and Central African Region, Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank regretted that it had no choice but to determine that the project no longer has a credible path for substantial completion of PLT12 lots with IDA financing.

A copy of the letter obtained by The Nation reads in part: “I regret that we have had no choice but to determine that the project no longer has a credible path for substantial completion of PLT12 lots with IDA financing.

“Accordingly, and notwithstanding Oyo State commitment to fund any unfinished works beyond June 30, 2022, we hereby withdraw our conditional no objection for the PLT12 BERs, effectively making our funding unavailable for such contracts.

“We are constrained to inform your Excellency that, in coordination with the Federal Government, we intend to initiate the cancellation of the corresponding IDA loan proceeds of US$50.1 million”, it continued.

The World Bank, also noted that it remained committed to supporting the first phase of the flood project “to ensure that the remaining tasks are completed timely and to the highest standards”.

It would be recalled that a non-government organisation – the Ibadan ‘Koya, had earlier in February warned that the state may lose the opportunity over delays in announcing the contractors.

The NGO’s coordinator, Oladele Morufu and Secretary, Joel Adeoye, said in a statement on Tuesday, “one would have expected the project implementation unit (PIU) of IUFMP and Oyo State Government to work assiduously towards a full implementation of the project’s programme of works, so as to ensure achievement of the anticipated outcomes of community flood resilience in Ibadan and environs.”

The post Why World Bank cancelled N26b Oyo flood project first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Governor Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, made the pledge at the closing ceremony of the workshop on Ibadan flood forecast, early warning and implementation support programme held in the state capital, on Wednesday.

The Governor assured that his government would readily support the implementation of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management and other ongoing intervention projects in the state.

Contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Governor, commended the IUFMP on the flood forecast initiative, which he said: “will furnish our people with prior alerts about impending flood disasters”.

He stressed  that it was that a scientific initiative that would alert the people of the possibility of a looming flood disaster was being launched.

Governor Makinde, also described the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (lUFMP) as a people-oriented project set up to change the narrative of incessant and ravaging flood disasters, adding that the project was in consonance with his campaign promises.

The statement added that the Governor had at earlier meetings with the IUFMP team given assurances that Government would take necessary steps to protect the people while charging that the stakeholders on the project to ensure that all hands were on deck to achieve the effective implementation of the initiative.

“Beyond building bridges, culverts, drain lines, and access roads which are on their own crucial towards ensuring the good life, we as a government also have a duty to give full support to the implementation of the IUFMP initiative that will furnish our people with prior alerts about impending flood disasters.

“This will enable our people to take proactive steps for the preservation of lives and properties. This is a step in the right direction and it will continue to enjoy maximum support of the State Government.

“It is pertinent that we are able to x-ray the factors that can ultimately protect our people from vulnerability to flooding, through adequate knowledge building and information flow on impending flooding and looming dangers. Such information, readily disseminated well ahead of time will save lives.
“I have been told that this workshop, which started yesterday is a two-day programme aimed at sensitising State officials, key stakeholder-agencies and representatives of communities situated along with flood-prone areas, while also informing high-level office-holders about the project,” the Governor said.
Governor Makinde further stated that the State would be expecting value for its investment in the project, which he noted should be in terms of “immediate gains in the area of safety of lives and properties, as well as measurable capacity building for our homegrown technocrats and public servants who would be required to sustain the initiative, post-IUFMP.”

Governor Makinde, however called on the operators of the project to ensure that the advantages of the project were transferred to other communities in the state through a form of knowledge transfer.

“As I have assured officials of the IUFMP before now, our government will continue to provide enabling environment for the success of other intervention works being carried out at different locations/communities within Ibadan. We expect that all such projects are delivered on schedule to enable our people reap the benefits,” the Governor submitted.

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