By Thomas Abidoye
The Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace, Mr. Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, has clarified that the recent protest over the condition of the LAMECO Flyover in Osogbo was not politically motivated but was carried out in the interest of residents and taxpayers in Osun State.
Lamina made the clarification on Wednesday during an interactive session with officials of the Osun State Ministry of Works and journalists at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo. The meeting was organised to address public concerns over the partial damage observed on the LAMECO Flyover.
He said his organisation had consistently held governments and individuals accountable on issues affecting the people, lamenting that its interventions were often interpreted as being politically sponsored.
According to him, if the protest had been sponsored by politicians or individuals, there would have been no reason for the organisation to engage directly with the Ministry of Works to seek professional clarification on the matter.
Lamina maintained that the protest was undertaken solely in the public interest, stressing that taxpayers deserve accountability for projects executed with public funds.
He explained that the engagement with the ministry was aimed at obtaining professional explanations on the condition of the bridge and other infrastructure projects across the state.
He added that the initiative was also intended to provide residents with factual information and prevent the spread of misinformation capable of creating unnecessary panic.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Engr. Idowu Bashir Bello, said engineering assessments are based on scientific evidence and professional investigations rather than political assumptions.
Bello explained that engineering conclusions are derived from data, investigations and professional analysis, noting that every government project undergoes strict quality assurance procedures, including laboratory analysis of construction materials, compressive strength tests and non-destructive structural examinations before being certified for public use.
He disclosed that the ministry retains five per cent of every contract sum as a retention fee to ensure contractors rectify any defects identified during the defect liability period before receiving final payment.
The permanent secretary said the appearance of minor defects on infrastructure projects is a normal engineering occurrence worldwide and should not be interpreted as structural failure.
Speaking on the LAMECO Flyover, Bello maintained that there was no evidence of structural collapse, alleging that some of the observed damage resulted from external interference rather than poor construction.
He said the incident amounted to damage and not structural failure, assuring that the bridge remains structurally sound. He added that independent structural engineers had been invited to conduct further assessments and that their findings would be made public.
Bello further alleged that chemicals suspected to be diesel were deliberately poured on sections of the asphalt, explaining that diesel weakens asphalt surfaces and allows water to penetrate, thereby accelerating deterioration.
He urged residents to disregard unverified reports capable of causing panic, assuring them of the ministry’s commitment to the safety of all road users.
On the award of contracts, the permanent secretary dismissed suggestions that Governor Ademola Adeleke personally selected contractors, explaining that recommendations are made strictly by professionals within the ministry based on competence, technical capacity and experience.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, Mr. Jare Tiamiyu, called for greater transparency in the execution of public infrastructure projects.
Tiamiyu said members of the public deserve to know the contractors handling government projects, the procurement process through which they emerged and their track records, noting that transparency strengthens public confidence in government projects.
In his remarks, the Director of Highways, Engr. Moruff Oyebode, also explained that all contracts awarded by the state government comply with the Public Procurement Law.
He said projects are publicly advertised, bids are evaluated and contractors are shortlisted based on experience, technical competence, available equipment, qualified personnel and financial capacity before recommendations are forwarded for government approval.
He stated that the Adeleke administration has completed about 250 kilometres of roads, while more than 140 kilometres of road projects are currently under construction across Osun State.
Ojebode reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering durable and quality infrastructure and urged residents to rely on verified technical information rather than unsubstantiated claims circulating on social media.