The Osun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has defended the integrity of the LAMECO Flyover in Osogbo, dismissing claims that the damaged section of the bridge amounts to a structural failure. The ministry maintained that all public infrastructure projects in the state are subjected to rigorous engineering supervision, laboratory testing and transparent procurement procedures.
The clarification was made during a meeting with officials of the World Institute for Peace and Media at the ministry’s headquarters in Abere. The engagement followed the organisation’s recent protest over the damaged section of the newly commissioned flyover.
Speaking during the meeting, the Executive Director of the World Institute for Peace and Media, Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, said the organisation sought the engagement to obtain official clarification on the project, stressing that its earlier protest was motivated by public interest rather than politics.
According to him, the organisation requested explanations on the contractors handling the LAMECO Flyover project, the government’s quality assurance mechanisms and the procedures adopted in awarding major infrastructure contracts.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Idowu Bashir Bello, said every contractor handling government projects is subjected to strict supervision by experienced ministry engineers, regardless of the administration in power.
Bello noted that he has served under five Osun State governors—Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Adegboyega Oyetola and Governor Ademola Adeleke—adding that professional engineering standards have remained consistent across successive administrations.
“The same Ministry of Works engineers who supervised projects under previous governments are still supervising projects today. If anyone condemns projects certified by the ministry, it simply means they are condemning projects executed under successive administrations because the same professional standards have remained in place,” he said.
To support his position, Bello cited several landmark infrastructure projects delivered across different administrations, including the State Secretariat built during the Akande administration, the Old Garage–Abere–Akoda Dual Carriageway and Aregbe Bridge completed under Oyinlola, the Gbongan Interchange and several bridges constructed during Aregbesola’s tenure, the Olaiya Flyover delivered under Oyetola, as well as the Okefia, LAMECO and Lagere flyovers and other ongoing dual carriageway projects being executed by the Adeleke administration.
Addressing concerns over the LAMECO Flyover, Bello explained that every government construction contract contains a defect liability period during which contractors remain responsible for correcting any defects identified after project completion.
He disclosed that the government retains five per cent of every contract sum throughout the liability period as a retention fee, describing the arrangement as an internationally recognised engineering practice.
“Minor defects during the liability period are not unusual. They are anticipated in engineering contracts, which is why the retention fee exists. What happened on the bridge should not be interpreted as structural failure,” Bello stated.
He added that preliminary findings suggested the affected section of the flyover had sustained damage rather than suffering a structural failure, stressing that only a comprehensive engineering investigation could establish the actual cause.
The Permanent Secretary urged members of the public to avoid speculation capable of creating unnecessary panic, insisting that engineering conclusions should be based on scientific evidence rather than assumptions or political narratives.
Also speaking, the Director of Highways, Engr. M.A. Ojebode, clarified that the Ministry of Works does not award contracts, explaining that the responsibility lies with the Osun State Public Procurement Agency.
According to him, the agency advertises projects publicly, receives bids from interested contractors and evaluates them based on technical competence, financial capacity, equipment, manpower and previous performance before recommending qualified firms for government approval.
“The procurement process is transparent and competitive. Contractors emerge after meeting clearly defined technical and financial requirements, while approvals are granted through the appropriate government channels,” Ojebode said.
He added that the Adeleke administration has continued to execute major infrastructure projects across the state, describing many of them as legacy projects designed to stand the test of time.
Ojebode cited the Akoda–Cottage–Oke Gada Road as an example, noting that despite being completed several years ago, it remains in good condition, while similar road projects are ongoing across the state’s federal constituencies.
The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Engr. O.O. Salami, said the ministry has also supervised the reconstruction and renovation of public schools and primary healthcare centres across the state in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Health.
He explained that technical assessments are conducted to determine whether ageing school buildings should be renovated or completely rebuilt, noting that structures that have outlived their lifespan are demolished and reconstructed to eliminate safety risks.
Salami further disclosed that several primary healthcare centres have been upgraded with modern facilities, including improved buildings, potable water, electricity and solar-powered installations, to enhance healthcare service delivery.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to delivering quality infrastructure, ensuring transparency in project execution and sustaining collaboration with civil society organisations to strengthen public confidence in government projects.
The meeting came days after residents and members of civil society organisations staged a protest in Osogbo, demanding a comprehensive investigation into the damaged section of the newly commissioned LAMECO Flyover.
The protesters, who marched from Freedom Park to the flyover, said the incident had raised serious concerns about the quality of work executed on the project, which was funded with public resources.
