Tunji Ariyomo Lied About Water Projects In Ondo State
Claiming that I Secured $57 Million For Water Projects In Ondo State By Tunji Ariyomo is untrue and a statement intended to deceive.
The fundamental role of a Public Servant is to actively serve the government of the day in designing, formulating and implementing public policy, and discharges government functions and development programmes in an effective and efficient way. In ensuring good governance, government bureaucracy is the public service that enunciates and implements government policies, programs and projects.
I was surprised and shocked by the former Special Adviser on Public Utilities, supervising Ondo State Water Corporation and Ondo State Electricity board at cabinet level to lay claim on securing USD 57million. I see this as political statement and a statement that should be quickly corrected to avoid misleading our political leaders. The statement is untrue and falsehood. Looking for any political office should not translate to distorting facts for unnecessary self-glorification. I am Engineer Akinrinmade Jimmy, the General Manger of Ondo State water Corporation between April 2014 to Sept 2nd, 2022.
Securing the credit facilities started in 2014 through Engr Benson Ajisegiri (former Federal Director of Water Supply in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources). An icon of the Water Sector. He was invited by the then Governor, Dr.Olusegun Raman Mimiko to discuss the way out on the issue of Water Supply in the State. Two options were discussed. Using Private Sector Participation or borrowing. The option of Borrowing was agreed upon. The State Government was advised to do letter of expression of interest to Federal Ministry of Finance the Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Our Team then (Engr. Akinrinmade Jimmy (GM), Engr. Toba Akinde (Project Liaison Officer) and, Engr. Adesemuyi (Procurement Officer) were later invited to Abuja through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to present our financial needs. Eventually the sum of USD 150Million was approved for the three State Water Agency because of the Limited budget of AFD. The sum of USD 50million was allocated to Ondo State Water Agency. An argument was then presented by the Ondo Team under the Leadership of Engr Akinrinmande Jimmy (GM) that the project will not be sustainable because of the number of water connection.
In 2015 a consultant was appointed to carry out the feasibility studies of the water Project by Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Between 14th and 16th of June 2016 a Mission visit was organized by AFD under a task team leader, Mr. Roger Luhawe with the following objective.
During the Workshop the draft interim report was reviewed. The financing support for Ondo State was then increased from $50million to $57million.
I would also like to mention Engr. Giwa (Board Chairman) and Otunba Femi Adekanbi the supervising political head during this period for their tremendous contribution in ensuring that we access the Governor endorsement on letters that should radiate from the state to the Ministers. During the tenure of these two able leaders, we succeeded in securing $2.3million grant from the World Bank and $57million loan from AFD.
The Board of Agency de France (AFD) met in November 2016 and the project was approved in December 2016. We were directed to meet all the condition precedent before we can access the first drawdown of the fund. His Excellency, Dr. Raman Mimiko’s Administration winded up in February 2017 and Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu took over the administration of the State.
Between February and September 2017, the Water Corporation had literally met all the condition precedent except determination of SCC contract and this has been tabled before Mr. Governor. A meeting was arranged between the Management of SCC and the State Government at Protea Hotel in Abuja. Another meeting was arranged at Governor’s office in Akure. After due consultation, Mr Governor approved determination of the contract. The appropriation of the fund was done at the national assembly. The State team during the appropriation was led by Mrs. Amosun (Special Adviser on Intergovernmental matters).
We were in the middle of this mess when Engr Ariyomo was appointed the Special Adviser on Public Utilities to supervise Ondo State Water Corporation and Ondo State Electricity Board.
I agreed with Engr Ariyomo that he participated in the implementation of the project supported by AFD but not in securing the fund. The State had already got the $57million financing support before his appointment. The former Director of Water Supply in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (Engr Benson Ajisegiri who is an indigene of the State) is alive as a witness.
The following activities were carried out under the project during the tenure of Engr Ariyomo:
Obtaining governor’s approval for provision of N702 million as counterpart marching fund for the $2.3million grant.
Procurement of PMS
Procurement of Akure Network Cartography
Drafting of ToR for Detail Engineering Study and Design.
These are all international procurement and we all know the process involved to obtain No Objection before the award of the contract. The award of this procurement was delayed due to unnecessary interference. I am crediting these achievements to Engr Ariyomo as the head, but I know the roles the General Manager of the Corporation and Head of the Project Implementation Unit played in the process. Your roles on this project cannot be easily forgotten by those of us in the water sector negatively. The award of this procurement was unnecessarily delayed due to interference at the SA’s end.
I also want Engr Ariyomo to recall that during the madden briefing of Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu (late), He made it known that the Ondo State Water Sector should look for investors. This was followed by engaging SAO Capital to attract investors to the State.
Recall that during the preparation for the AfDB fund of $104.2 million for which the former SA is claiming the glory, he was absent during the review of the project at African Development Bank office in Abuja. The GM, PC, and MD of SAO capital, Mr. Ayo Sotirin were the Government representative.
The negotiation of the AfDB fund was done by the following the following team representing Ondo State Government; (i) Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju (Commissioner for Water Resources, and Public Sanitation) (ii) Mr Igbasan (Commissioner for Bubget and Planning); (iii) Mr Wale Akinterinwa (Commissioner for Finance); (iv) Engr Jimmy Akinrinmade (GM); and (iv) Engr Toba Idowu (Project Coordinator).
The water portfolio had been withdrawn from Engr Ariyomo at this time and Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju had taken over as the Commissioner for Water Resources and Public Sanitation. The following activities were carried out during her tenure in office:
Securing the Counterpart matching fund,
Award of contract for OTA and ITA
Award of contract for Project Auditor
Award of contract for detailed Engineering Study and Design.
RUWATSA witness a tremendous progress because of her interaction with Federal Ministry of Water resources especially the Minister then. She takes the welfare of the workers as priority. If there are issues to be resolved, she resolved them instead of snitching to Mr. Governor. She doesn’t derive joy in destroying any carrier officers because of selfish interest and greed. Whenever there are Political interference, which .cannot be totally ruled out, she has way of resolving them.
Presently, the water projects are at standstill because of leadership problem and political interference. Those that claim they are implementers and experts are being driven by fear and greed. The AFD project should officially closed in December 2022, but additional 2 years extension was applied for through the Minister of Water Resources. The actual engineering works ought to have been awarded by now.
I am imploring our able Governor, Mr. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, to pay attention to these projects so that both the AFD and AfDB loans will achieve the desired objectives of providing sustaining water services to our people.
