Television Nigerian

The World Bank has canceled a $50.1 million grant to the government of Oyo State for flood control (about N20.6billion).

The money was set aside for the Ibadan Flood Management Project’s Second Pool of Long-Term Investment (PLT12) (IUFMP).

The World Bank cited the state’s inability to meet project timelines despite “assurances” in a letter to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, signed by Shubham Chaudhuri, Country Director for Nigeria, Western and Central African Region.

“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,” the July 30 letter reads in part, according to a copy obtained by The Nation yesterday.

“As a result, despite Oyo State’s commitment to fund any unfinished works beyond June 30, 2022, we hereby withdraw our conditional no objection for the PLT12 BERs, effectively removing our funding from such contracts.

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

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The bank stated that it would continue to support the flood project’s first phase “to ensure that the remaining tasks are completed on time and to the highest standards.”

The Ibadan ‘Koya, a non-governmental organization, had warned in February that the state might lose the opportunity due to delays in announcing the contractors.

“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 project’s coordinator, Oladele Morufu, and secretary, Joel Adeoye, said in a statement yesterday.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the Federal Government will ensure the completion of critical projects in the Niger Delta region.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, revealed this in an Abuja statement on Tuesday.

He said the vice president spoke at the Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper’s 6th Anniversary Lecture/Niger Delta Awards in Lagos.

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Mr Edobor Iyamu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, office of the Vice President, represented Osinbajo at the ceremony.

“Through infrastructural development, environmental remediation, and local content development, the goal of this new vision is to ensure that the people of the region get the most out of their wealth.

“As part of its effort to broaden economic opportunities in the region, this administration has pushed for modular refinery investments.

“The goal of this initiative is to address our current energy demands while also empowering the people of the Niger Delta by promoting local content,” according to the statement.

To boost economic activity in the state, the Delta State government has approved the construction of some township roads.

Amoro street in Enerhen, Uvwie Local Government Area, Osamor street in Ika North-East, Ozu/Onyia/Ogbe streets in Ekuku-Agbor, Ika South, and Okpolo/Owien road in Isoko South are among the roads.

The state executive council gave its approval at a meeting in Asaba.

Mr Charles Aniagwu, the state Commissioner for Information, told reporters after the meeting that a high-powered committee led by the deputy governor had been formed to look into sanitation issues in the state, and that the committee was expected to make recommendations on how to maintain a healthier environment.

“The Warri/Uvwie and Environs Development Agency also presented a memo on the amount of storm water drainage that the agency is constructing for the purpose of increasing the pace of work and also including certain aspects of phase ll and phase lV.

“As you may recall, we began construction on the project in phases l and ll, but it was discovered that certain areas in phases lll and lV needed to be addressed because the return of the rains showed that if those areas were not completed, it would affect what was being done in phases l and ll, which is why the addendum was brought forward for approval by the council.

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“The executive council approved the UTM Offshore Limited for Delta, which is for us to invest in a floating liquefied natural gas project because it is believed that this investment will not only protect our future, but will also provide opportunities for our people to create more jobs.

“This is a private-sector investment, and we are optimistic that, given the enormous natural gas reserves in our state, it is a worthwhile investment,” he said.

The approval for the start of medical equipment procurement at the Advanced Diagnostic Centre and the Mother and Child Centre in Owa-Alero, according to the commissioner, was also to advance the state’s healthcare delivery system.

He also stated that the appointment of Theophilus Nderekeme, Pere of Isaba, had been approved, and that the approval would take effect in December 2020, when he was installed by traditional institutions in Isaba, Warri South-West Local Government.

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Commissioner for Housing, Chief Festus Ochonogor, said the council had approved the start of the Delta State Social Housing Development Programme, a pilot scheme aimed at providing accessible and affordable housing for the state’s low and middle income households.

Ochonogor said the pilot scheme would start in three locations: Owa-Oyibu, Kwale, and Ozoro, and that the executive council had directed the Ministry of Lands to talk to communities in Delta Central about getting unencumbered land so that his ministry could start the program.

“We are also stepping up our project supervision efforts, particularly in relation to three newly-established universities in the state, to ensure that they can begin seamless academic activities,” he added.