…urges contractors to maintain quality standards
The Chairman of the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sulaiman Murtala, has stressed the importance of ensuring that residents have access to potable water, describing it as essential to public health, human wellbeing and sustainable development in society.
Murtala stated this during the rounding-off of the Committee’s oversight inspection of ongoing water projects being executed by the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Water Corporation in various parts of the Akure metropolis.
The inspection, which was aimed at assessing the level of progress, quality of work and compliance with project specifications, ended at Lots 1 and 3, as well as various locations where ongoing pipe-laying works were being carried out.
The Committee, led by Hon. Sulaiman Murtala, comprises other members, including Hon. Chris Ayebusiwa, Hon. Afe Felix and Hon. Tope Agbulu. During the exercise, the lawmakers inspected various project sites and interacted with contractors and officials of the Ondo State Water Corporation.
The Committee urged the contractors handling the projects to ensure that the works were executed according to approved specifications and standards, stressing the need for quality and durable infrastructure that would serve the people of the state for many years.
Speaking shortly after the inspection, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Sulaiman Murtala, said the projects were progressing fairly well, noting that the contractors were making efforts to overcome some of the challenges encountered at the various sites.
He said, “My observation is that the project is going on fairly well. The contractors are doing their best, even though today we were able to see some of the challenges they are facing and how they are ameliorating or trying to overcome them.”
Murtala said that, by and large, the contractors were working towards the prompt delivery of the projects, adding that the successful completion of the water projects would have a significant positive impact on the people of Ondo State.
The Chairman also appreciated the efforts of the state government, particularly Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for providing the necessary funds to enable the projects to commence.
According to him, the provision of potable water remains critical to the wellbeing of the people, and the Assembly would continue to perform its oversight responsibilities to ensure that public funds committed to the projects were judiciously utilised.
On the maintenance and sustainability of the water infrastructure after completion, Murtala said that the state government had approved the recruitment of young engineers who would work alongside expatriate project coordinators and acquire the necessary knowledge about the locations of pipelines, joints and other components of the system.
He explained that the engineers would eventually be saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the projects, stressing that their involvement would help ensure the sustainability and effective management of the water supply infrastructure.
The Chairman therefore urged the people of Ondo State to protect the water infrastructure in their communities and support government efforts to ensure that the facilities remained functional for the benefit of present and future generations.
Earlier, the General Manager of the Ondo State Water Corporation, Engr. Oluwaseun Omoge, commended the House Committee for undertaking a comprehensive inspection of virtually all the project sites and buildings under the Corporation within the Akure metropolis.
Omoge said the inspection provided an opportunity for the lawmakers to engage directly with the contractors handling the projects at various locations, adding that the Corporation was encouraged by the observations and commendations received from the Committee.
He said the management and staff of the Ondo State Water Corporation, under the leadership of the Commissioner, Mr. Ayodele Akande, were working collectively to ensure effective service delivery and the successful implementation of the ongoing water projects across the state.
According to him, the Corporation would continue to collaborate with the contractors and other stakeholders to ensure that the projects were delivered according to specifications and would ultimately improve access to potable water for residents.
The contractors handling the various projects, in their separate remarks, assured the Committee of their commitment to delivering the projects within the stipulated schedules and in line with approved standards.
They pledged to address identified challenges and sustain the pace of work towards the timely completion and commissioning of the projects for the benefit of the people of Ondo State.
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