By Seyi Babalola
The Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, appealed to residents of the state to take ownership of public infrastructure, saying it was adopting measures to address the challenge of water facility vandalism across the state.
The Executive Chairman, of Oyo State Water Corporation, Hon. Elias Adeojo, disclosed this in Ibadan while addressing newsmen.
Adeojo enjoined residents to desist from stealing and destroying the corporation’s facilities across the state, with the thought that they are moribund.
According to him, “it is our collective effort to curb this act, as the corporation cannot single handedly do it. People think the properties have deteriorated and are no longer useful. Stealing and vandalization of government properties is like destroying our unborn generation’s future, which is very wrong”.
Hon. Adeojo explained further that, “If you see people that want to steal or destroy our properties, fight them because it is your civic responsibility to stop them from damaging the properties, as it is a big factor that is affecting the development of the corporation”.
Adeojo assured that the Oyo state government was already tackling the challenge through some waterworks projects at Asejire dam and Eleyele river.
The chairman therefore appealed to the general public to support the corporation when work commences in Asejire and Eleyele Dam, by informing them about pipe leakages.
He expressed the present administration’s readiness to partner with international donors, so as to revamp the decaying infrastructure of the corporation, adding that the government has begun maintaining the Asejire and Eleyele dams.
Hon. Elias Adeojo disclosed that not fewer than 37.8 hectares of land at Asejire dam has been leased to some agro-processing companies. This, he said, will serve as empowerment to residents around Asejire dam.
Also, at Eleyele Dam, Mr. Adeojo said the corporation has partnered with a firm on a project, which will generate funds for the government.
Mr. Adeojo added that the Corporation has started boosting its infrastructure to increase supply and address the shortage of potable water in Ibadan, and other parts of the State.
While he regretted that epileptic power supply in the country was impeding the spread of water to households, he called on power generating firms to tap into the hydro-power potentials of Asejire dam for power generation.
He reiterated the appeal to residents to stop water infrastructure vandalism in the State, adding that the Corporation was collaborating with other ministries and agencies to stop the development.
