Engr. Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor
Oyo Risks Losing $200m International Bank Development Fund -NGO
A non governmental organisation, Ibadan Ko ‘Ya Anti Corruption Coalition, has expressed concern and fear over the delay by the Oyo State government to approve and release the names of contractors to handle some World Bank drainage projects in the State capital, Ibadan. 
The fear came as the Oyo state government is lobbying the World Bank to undermine the procurement strategy and award the contracts to companies linked to the Governor and his cronies in excess of N7 billion above the substantially responsive lowest bidders in the four lots
The NGO in a statement signed by its coordinator and secretary, Messrs Oladele Morufu and Joel Adeoye respectively, is calling on well meaning Nigerians, especially the people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general, to prevail on the State government from further delaying the announcement and submission of names of qualified contractors to the World Bank, sponsoring the projects before it is too late.
The NGO’s statement on the project read in parts: “the government has refused to name the qualified contractors who participated in the bid advertised on August 6, 2020 and opened publicly on Friday October 2, 2020 to handle the project tagged, ” Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project”.
Ibadan Ko ‘Ya further disclosed in its statement that the contractors who participated in the bid were more than 28 and from their quotations and bid prices alongside their bid security amount, “it is clear and without ambiguity the companies who should be awarded the contracts.
“As stakeholders in Oyo State project and among those who are interested in the development of the state, we are so concerned about the government of Engr. Seyi Makinde insistence on forcing his chosen contractors on World Bank.
“We gathered however, that the delay from the government was not unconnected to greediness and the fact that the government is out to manipulate the outcome of the bid and the contract process, while imposing their own chosen contractors which is contrary to World Bank procedures and standard.
“Our fear is that there are already several petitions written to World Bank with respect to the manipulation of the process by the state government. This we can assure Nigerians may lead to the cancelation of the loan facility and make Oyo State and the communities to benefit from the flood management project the losers.”
The NGO stated further that the World Bank had queried the Oyo State Government represented by Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), on the proposed award of contracts for the Construction of 2nd Pool of Long Term Investments for Flood Control in Ibadan City of Oyo State Lot 1- 4 to unqualified contractors companies linked to the state government.
It stated “the government’s role in the “corrupt contract award” poses a significant hidden risks for the release of $200,000 million dollars financing agreement.
“The state government and the World Bank are at loggerheads over the award and this could potentially lead to the bank cancelling the $200 million dollars development fund granted to Oyo state if the state government does not comply to the World Bank procurement strategies.
“The cancellation could ultimately have a negative impact on the lives of the oyo indigenes”.
In a telephone interview, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa said he is not aware of the said project and would have nothing to say about it for now.
Taiwo who promised to to reach out to the journalist who called him on phone, never did till the press time.
