Oyo Remains Committed To World Bank-backed Project – Makinde

THE Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his commitment to the timely completion of the World Bank-backed Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP).

The governor has also appealed to the World Bank not to withdraw its conditional no objection for the Second Pool of Long Term Investments (PLTI2) BERs, and make available funding for the contracts.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the state also debunked insinuations that the World Bank had withdrawn its commitment to IUFMP due to display of undue interests by the governor.

The commitment of the governor and Oyo State Government is coming at a time when the World Bank, in its correspondence of July 30, 2021, to Makinde, pointed out administrative issues and strengthening of the safeguard team.

“The Bank, nonetheless, expressed a recognition of Governor Makinde’s unwavering support to the important project,” the statement said.

The statement noted that while a  correspondence from the World Bank, signed by its Country Director, Nigeria, Western and Central Africa Region, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, had conveyed the determination of the status of its support for the project,  the said decision was not as a result of undue interference by Makinde.

“The government of Oyo State remained committed to its letter of undertaking submitted to the Bank in May 2021,” the statement said.