Honourable Commissioner, in the past one year, the state Government has made huge investment in Water sector. Lead us into what has happened in your ministry within the period under review
Thank you so much. You know, this Government started with serious commitment on people's charter of needs, which water is one of the critical component, and I can tell you that the governor has lived up to his words especially in the Water sector, that's why we have been able to have completely rehabilitated Ezilo Water Scheme as at today and then for the first time in over ten years, we have been able to fill that big reservoir which is 25,000 cubic meter at Umuoghara. For the first time now, we have the capacity to fill it with water and distribute. Though we had a little power challenges in the past three weeks, but that has nothing to do with the scheme because the scheme is working. You can agree with me that before now, we have been supplying water to the areas that we've solved their reticulation problems.
Apart from rehabilitating the Ezilo Water Scheme, we have also completely rehabilitated the pipeline from Ezilo to Abakaliki urban. Don't forget that this scheme is an old scheme that was done in the 80s during Jim Nwobodo era, you can imagine the level of rot in the pipe system and we have completely repaired all the leakages and change the pipes where necessary. it has been very challenging but we had to do that. In addition to the vandalization that was done to the valves. Wherever the pipe is exposed, you know, what is reigning now is scrap vendors. Wherever they see anything iron, they caught it off, they don't care what it is meant for, and our pipe line is a victim of these vendors, but we have been able to replace those things.
In that Ezilo Water Scheme that used to be a heaven for criminals before the coming of this administration, we completely rehabilitated and put security measures and since then, we have not recorded and form of vandalization because we trained some able bodied youths and put them there on 247 security surveillance.
And then, in the urban Areas, we've been able to fix over sixty streets and roads and they get water whenever we pump water. They are listed below;
1 Eckanka Road
2. lgwe Niga
3. Mbam Agbo
4. Umunze Mgbabor Area
5. Gody Ogbaga Avenue
6. Ezeokohu Street
7. Bar.Ikpeama
8. Onwe Ekuma
9. Otu Street
10. Benard Igwe Crescent
11. Adigi Street
12. Emefo Street
13. Martin Close
14. Nnorom Street
15. Assembly Lane
16. Amagu Street
17. Area Command
18. Ezza road
19.Scakmorei's quarter
20.Ogbaga Road
21.Igweogofia Street
22.Gilbert Street
23. Enigwe Street
24.Udensi quarter
25.Nna Street
26.Udensi Street
27.Urochukwu street
28. Ebebe Junction
29. Nnodo Secondary School
30. Ogodo Onuoba Street
31.Uloenwu Street
32.Ogboloko Street
33.New heaven Street
34.Water works
35.Liberty Street
36.Aguironsi Street
37.Awolowo Street
38.Ibiam Street
39.Uga Street
40.Mberi Street
41.Scripture Union
42.Kojo Street
43.Afikpo Street
44.Breakenbury Street
45.Udemezue Area
46. Ezeke Ikwo Mile50
47.Achi Street
48.Hilltop
49.SS field Area
50.Ogoja Road
51.Vanco
52. Nwankwo Street
53. Onogoro Street
54.Isiofia Street
55.Nofia street
56.Afikpo Road
57.Douglas Ogbonna Street
58. street
59. Ofia Nwali
60.Omege in Ogboga Road Area
The unfortunate thing is that some people are still living in the past. Some don't believe that there's water in those pipes, so unfortunately, most of these streets we have pipes yet, they are not connected to the water supply, some of them are still relying on their boreholes which is not safe for drinking and some are yet to come for proper connection. So, I use this opportunity to encourage Ebonyians to come to the office so that we get their data and get them connected in the areas we have fixed the pipe challenges.
Currently, we're rehabilitating the old Abakaliki water scheme, that is where you have the high lift at juju hill and the low lift is behind CAS. We're doing a serious work there, I will encourage you to visit there yourself and see what were are doing. And behind CAS at the low lift we are doing a serious work there.
Then at oferekpe Water Scheme, we're doing the same thing, total rehabilitation of oferekpe Water Scheme. We have already traced the line from oferekpe to Abakaliki town and as I speak with you, we have fixed all the vandalized air valves. As I talk with you, hopefully before the end of this month we're going to pump water from oferekpe to Abakaliki because we are currently working on the public power supply. The generators in the scheme have all been rehabilitated and are now in good working condition. To curb the menace of vandals, we're currently fencing the entire oferekpe water Scheme. You can imagine that such a huge investment was not fenced, so, we're fencing the scheme and we're building staff quarters right inside the scheme so that people working there can live inside the scheme. You know human presence will also help to scare away the vandals. These are the measures we have taken there. We’re equally going to procure disel to alternate with the public power supply.
Then at Iboko, we are doing a very huge reservoir near the Iboko market. The essence of that reservoir is to enable us distribute water through gravity to Iboko and surrounding communities.
Within the first quarter of next year, we're going to complete the reservoir at izicha forest, the idea is that, water will come from oferekpe to izicha forest up to Iboko and from there to ICT University oferekpe Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area.
Again, we still have ishiagu Water Scheme that is still going. We're going to complete the civil work before November and piping will commence immediately. We're also doing another reservoir at Isiaka to take care of the Communities within that Area. So, we are doing a whole lots of projects.
Again, we did not stop at that, to make sure that the critical Communities with water challenges are also taking care of, the state Government through the Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EBRUWASA) that was moribond has been revitalized and they are seriously providing boreholes. They have completed 48 number boreholes. 35 are hand pumps and 13 are motorized boreholes.
When are we expecting the commencement of Water from the old Abakaliki water scheme
Old Abakaliki water scheme will come up before the end of this year. Work is seriously going on there and I am believing strongly that before the end of October, we will have water from Old Abakaliki water scheme.
What is your ministry doing in reticulating water to other areas not presently covered.
We have taken care of Omege axis up to Ebia bridge, even the community after Ebia bridge is getting our water. So, we have already taken care of those areas. The only challenge we have in some of those areas that we have fixed their pipe Water is that they don't come for connection to the individual houses. Our responsibility is not to come and put water in someone's kitchen. When we provide this service line, you come to the ministry of water resources, we take your data and then we come and connect your house. The essence is that we know what it will take, but we are against anyone connecting Water because most times, they are not professionals and they can do damage to the water pipeline. So, Omege is one of the places we have covered.
I am using this opportunity to urge all Ebonyians to be patient because we can not do everything in just one year. Water project is expensive and there are other competing demand for Government fund, so, we cannot solve the whole of these problem within one year.
Aside the vandalization, what are other challenges before you.
The challenges we are facing, just like i said earlier, the Water sector is not the only problem that the government is facing, so the limiter funds are faced by too many other factors. We have Education, we have works, health and so many other areas, but at the rate we're moving, I can assure you that before the end of next year, the issue of water challenges especially in the Abakaliki urban will be a thing of the past.
Also, ukawu water scheme which is another large Scheme, as large as oferekpe, we're going into that in the next fiscal year. Ukawu water scheme supposed to take care of Onicha, Ohaozara, Edda and some part of Afikpo.
Is there any plans to give Water to the Communities that houses the pipelines especially the oferekpe people and others
.
We have that plan to ensure that the host communities get this water. This is Because if you don't give them water there will still be challenges in securing the water infrastructure. And again, it not fair to tap water from a community and you don't give them Water, So, His Excellency Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifiru is not happy about it and he has given us the mandate to make sure that the community that host these pipelines are given Water within the shortest time. So, after rehabilitating this oferekpe Water Scheme and then ensuring that the major pipeline challenges are rectified and water is pumped to the reservoir here, next thing we have to do now is to reticulated water back to the host communities where these Water pipeline pass through, to ensure that they have water.
Is there any other extra measures you have taken in Securing the pipes
In the area of security of the pipes , every Ebonyians should see it as a collective business because of the sincerity of the Governor in delivering the people's charter of needs to the people of state. There’s need to be reciprocated by the people towards ensuring that water infrastructure and other government facilities are protected.
Finally, what is your message to Ebonyians
Finally, I want to tell all Ebonyians to remain patient with this administration. Do not tamper with the water infrastructure, the pipelines. Do not connect yourself. Gradually, all the streets that pipes have not been laid, must be laid within the very short time and the street where they are serious leakages, they are all going to be fixed. Within a short time, the water will be steady. We're making every effort to ensure that within the areas covered that they have steady water supply and those that have not gotten will get theirs. That is assurance of this administration and His Excellency is not playing politics with water. What we're doing is reality on the ground.
Thank you very much.
Post a Comment