With the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project, an initiative of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, residents of most parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as well as some other parts of the state have, up till recently, been enjoying relative peace and security.
The Makinde administration commenced the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project in September, 2019 with the first phase covering Ibadan alone. By virtue of the project, night life came alive in many of the areas where the street lights are erected and are functional.
However, about three years down the lane, it appears that Oyo State, particularly Ibadan, is returning back to the days of yore when darkness reigned supreme at nights.
Darkness has been an usual occurrence in some parts of the Ibadan metropolis, occasioned by the failure of most of the street lights to come up. However, it has become frightening that some critical parts of the metropolis are now in perpetual darkness.
Newscoven.com took a trip round some parts of the state capital. The discovery was shocking. In spite of the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project, darkness is gradually returning, even to a place covering the seat of power in the state!!!
As at 9pm on Saturday, the stretch of road from Total Garden, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State Secretariat, down to the state Headquarters of Customs Junction was in darkness.
As if that was not enough, the short stretch of road from the overhead bridge at the state Secretariat down to the Agodi Government House axis was also enveloped in total darkness.
Newscoven.com asked questions from some people around the Agodi area. The responses were not heart-warming.
Some of the respondents attributed the situation to an alleged sabotage. They claimed that darkness has been the lot of the Total Garden/UCH/Secretariat/ Customs Junction Road. They also disclosed that that has been situation for more than one and half months.
“The ‘Light Up Oyo’ project was a commendable initiative started by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde in 2019. However, about three years after, some things are happening that are casting aspersions on the good initiative of the governor.
“It is true that some parts of Ibadan are covered in darkness, in spite of the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project. This was because most of the street lights are no longer functioning in the affected areas.
“However, the situation has assumed more worrisome dimension. The stretch of road from Total Garden, up to Customs Junction is now in perpetual darkness.
“What’s more? Even all the street lights from the Secretariat Flyover up to the road to the Agodi Government House are no longer functioning. This has been the situation for over one and half months.
“This is an apparent sabotage or else can one explain the darkness around the Oyo State seat of power?,” one of the respondents asked rhetorically.
The questions are: Can the darkness enveloping some major streets in Ibadan, especially around the Agodi Government House, be as a result of sabotage?; If not an act of sabotage, what are the state government and the contractors handling the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project doing to arrest the ugly situation?
Recalled that the Makinde-led administration commenced the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project in September, 2019 with the first phase which then covered Ibadan alone.
Governor Makinde, while flagging off the second phase of the ‘Light Up Oyo’ in 2020, said the project was dear to his administration. He declared that “it ties in with two of the four pillars of our Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State (2019-2023) –Security and the Economy.”
Speaking on the importance of the project, the governor said: ‘Light Up Oyo’ project is very foundational to the security of Oyo State and its economy.
Makinde further declared in the September 2, 2020 edition of his monthly newsletter: “We cannot overemphasise the importance of street lights to our state security and the economy.
“Even the Bible says that darkness and light cannot exist together. And we know that criminals like to operate in the dark. When the streets are lighted up, it gives residents a sense of security.
“Also, street lights mean that economic activities can be carried out for longer periods. Who says we cannot have 24-hour restaurants, petrol stations and other businesses in Oyo State as happens in other cities worldwide? These developments start with basic infrastructure such as street lights.”
It became quite clear that, in spite of the good intention of Governor Makinde and its inherent security and economic benefits, things are not working well with the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project upon which several billions of naira has been expended. This much the state government acknowledged in April, 2023.
To resolve the identified technical difficulties facing the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project, the government then announced its intention to review the project to ensure that it run optimally across the state.
As stated in a release signed by then Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, the government had then expressed dissatisfaction with contractor handling the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project, noting that it was facing difficulties.
Olatunbosun also admitted then that the output of the contractor was not satisfactory. He noted that the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project has since stopped performing its expected role in the development of businesses, economy and tackling of insecurity in the nooks and crannies of the state.
“The Oyo State government would like to draw the attention of the general public to the actions the authorities will be taking to resolve the technical and sundry difficulties the ‘Light-Up Oyo’ project has been facing in recent times, which has hindered the project from running optimally.
“In the spirit of accountability and transparency, the authorities would like to put on record that there is a dispute between the Oyo State government and the contractor about how much work has been done and how the infrastructure is being operated.
“The government is not satisfied with the infrastructure provided and its specifications. These have been the main cause of the operation and maintenance challenges the project is facing.
“Therefore, the Oyo State government is presently auditing the entire infrastructure to determine the level and quality of work done. The audit process will be completed in about six weeks, after which the general public will be updated regarding any decisions reached and the way forward for the project.
“You will recall that in September 2019, the Oyo State Government embarked on the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project. The logic behind this project was two-fold. First, to grow the Oyo State economy. As Governor ‘Seyi Makinde stated, Oyo State cannot compete with cities that run a 24-hour economy if economic activities are shut down by 7 pm.
“Second, to tackle insecurity. Crime thrives in darkness. And so, when major parts of towns and cities are lit up, criminals will not have anywhere to hide,” Olatunbosun had then stated in the statement.
Is the current situation with the ‘Light Up Oyo’ project really an act of sabotage? What happened to the audit exercise carried out in 2023? Can the government stem the rising ugly trend and charge the contractor handling the project to be alive to its responsibilities, if they are found wanting?
