As the rehabilitation of Water Works at Iju in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area progresses, the Olota of Ota, Oba (Prof.) Abdulkabir Obalanlege has assured the government of the peaceful conduct of youths in the area and the contractors handling the project.

Obalanlege gave this assurance when a team led by the Senior Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Engr. Kunle Otun and other management members paid a courtesy visit to the Monarch in his Palace at Ota.

He acknowledged the government’s gesture for revisiting the project after years of abandonment, saying it would solve the challenge of potable water supply in the area.

“All hands are on deck at ensuring that a peaceful atmosphere is guaranteed for the contractors to experience smooth process that will lead to timely completion of the project”, the Monarch said.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Engr. Kunle Otun maintained that there had been reports of lack of cooperation from the youths in the area who are in the habit of demanding a certain amount of money from the contractor, adding that the development could hinder the smooth execution of the project if the activities of the youths involved were not checked.

He noted that the project had been abandoned for a long time due to lack of funds and other logistics, saying necessary assistance required from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) necessitated the revisit of the project which would be completed in 18 months.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Ogun State Water Corporation, Engr. Oluseye Maku, appealed to the paramount ruler to use his good office to establish mutual understanding between the government and residents whose property were on the right of ways, to further ensure a hitch-free project execution.

Maku revealed that the project is in two segments, the expansion of the Water Treatment Plants to a higher capacity which was currently being carried out by the Federal government, while the laying of pipelines for the distribution of water across Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area would later be executed by the State government.