From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan
A request to access N800million loan for the state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency forwarded by Governor Seyi Makinde has been approved by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The counterpart fund, targeted at attracting the sum of N2.967billion from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, is intended for the expansion of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene in 20 local government areas of the state.
The plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, gave the approval on Thursday.
The letter read in parts, “The project is aimed at improving water supply, sanitation and hygiene situation in the urban, small towns, and rural areas in the state.”
The 20 local government areas to benefit from the project are Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West, Ogbomoso, Atisbo, Afijio, Akinyele, Atiba, Iwajowa, Iseyin, Irepo, Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East, Ibadan North East, Kajola, Oyo East, Orelope, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Saki West and Saki East.
The Speaker, while reading the request, stressed the importance of good portable water supply to the people lamenting that most communities in the state lack hygienic water supply.
Ogundoyin said if the project is well implemented, residents of the state would be save from waterborne disease.
While some lawmakers stressed the importance of the expanded water project, others stated the need for the fund to be tracked for accountability.
They also urged the House Committee on Water Resources to ensure that the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, for which the grant is sought, execute the project as specified in order to address scarcity of water in the selected LGAs in the state.
