Water, has been considered one of the basic necessities of life. Provision of potable public water is essential and crucial for the future of the world’s economic and industrial development, quality public health and protection of the ecosystem. The importance of water to the overall well-being of man, Agriculture and Industrial growth can never be over-emphasized.
Water supply poses a huge challenge to most urban, semi-urban and rural areas. Analysts have posited that developed and developing countries of the world are at risk of severe water shortages in the 21st century, if urgent steps are not taken to address it. Not long ago, residents of Enugu metropolis were pummeled by temporary water scarcity. Understandably, the demand for this basic resource seems to be on the increase especially in the dry season, when supply from tributaries and groundwater becomes the only available aquiferous source. Unfortunately, geological position and topography of Enugu did not make accessibility to these ground waters feasible. This is as a result of abundance of natural reserve of coal referred to as SHALE. The shale formation does not yield much water due to the predominant composition of clay and hard stone(chippings).
It is important to reiterate that Gburugburu as a renowned administrator and consummate manager, has been making tremendous effort to turn this seemingly anomaly into good fortunes for the interest of Ndi Enugu. His Excellency, the governor in a courageous move to make unending water brouhaha in Enugu metropolis history, declared emergency in the water sector and engaged on design, financing, engineering, procurement and provision of skilled man power to construct distribution materials required to supply and reticulate potable water to all parts of the state especially in the capital city.
Governor Ugwuanyi tackled the menace of perennial water shortages in Enugu by assembling and Inaugurating
the Board of the State Water Corporation, headed by a renowned consultant in the water industry, Engr. Innocent O. Diyoke.
Another bold move made in the water sector aimed at reinforcing citizen’s rights to safe drinking water took place on the 23rd of January, 2021 when Enugu State government constituted another 18-Member inter-Ministerial committee with a mandate to revamp the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector. Not satisfied with his modest efforts so far, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi again approved the recruitment of skilled and unskilled personnels into the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources.This move was aimed at ensuring adequate man-power and smooth service delivery in the water sector. His resolute interventions is expected to yield a target production of 40,000 cubic meters of water from an initial injection of N100 million to increase the output of water supply to Enugu metropolis, as well as another humongous N170 million used for the maintenance of water facilities at Ajali and Oji River water schemes, to further boost supply. Others include, the commencement of AFD-funded 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project, integration of Adada Water Scheme and rehabilitation of other water schemes as well as, drilling of new boreholes with storage facilities and distribution of water across the state.
Furthermore, the State Government had commenced processes for the new Okwojo Ngwo borehole augmentation in Udi Local Government Area to Enugu metropolis.The project comprises of an interconnect of ten (10) solar powered borehole and a creatively invented plan that would help boost water production and distribution to Enugu metropolis and it’s environs.
Progressively, Gov.Ugwuanyi’s administration had kicked off with the rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme Water Project, with a committed contract sum of N600 million awarded to FordMarx Nigeria Limited, with an intended target of boosting potable water supply from Oji River, Ajali and Iva Valley water schemes, to Enugu metropolis and environs when completed.
The water project which will be solar-powered, would address the unusual challenges of power failure and further help in boosting the volume of water being distributed from the water scheme to Enugu metropolis.
Consequently the importance of these interventions to the people of Enugu metropolis and environs is very fundamental and is on record that Enugu State Government is highly committed to overcoming the acute water shortage through the provision of a new infrastructure requiring significant capital outlays over the next few years.
Without a doubt, Gov.Ugwuanyi’s quick intervention in the water sector is a testament to his broad-based outlook on major issues which primarily, form the fundamental aspect of his administration and had further reignited the unalloyed confidence and belief, Ndi Enugu have in Gburugburu.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS..ADDED…Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment
Written by
Gibson Uchenna Ilozuru
A political Analyst
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
