ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo

Through the project, Osun State would benefit specifically in the area of water supply, sanitation and support to reforming institutions.

As a pointer to this, Mr. Nicholas Costello, head of Development Operation of the EC, assured the state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during a courtesy call in his office Thursday, that the project would be beneficial to the people of the state on completion.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, said the estimated cost of the project for the two states is about 87million Euros (about N13.7billion). According to Costello, the object of the water supply and sanitation sector reform programme (WSSSRP) is to contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable development and to the achievement of the water-related Millennium Development Goals, which all UN member states had pledged to meet by 2015. He said the EC support would be implemented in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the institution responsible for water in Osun, Cross River and four other states to be identified.

"The objective of SRIP is to improve the quality of service delivery through more efficient and transparent management of public finances in the beneficiary states. It is therefore vital for the WSSSRP to link with the SRIP to apply these improved instruments and minimise the risk of misuse of public funds, support states’ water supply programme and other institutions," the EC delegation disclosed.

In his response, Governor Oyinlola said the goals of the EC were in tandem with the programmes of his administration referring to the recent rating of state governments in which Osun came third. He said his administration had already put in place the Due Process Office adding that it would religiously pursue excellent delivery of service to the people of the state.

The governor promised to continue to cooperate with the EC in its developmental assignments in Osun State. The team of officials from the EC delegation in Nigeria and Federal Government officials from the National Planning Commission, Abuja are visiting Osun and Cross River states from January 25 - 27 and Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 to hold discussions with the state government authorities on the implementation of the projects.