Without a doubt, the need for provision of adequate potable water as captured in the section 27(1)(b) of 1999 Constitution granting every citizen, a right of access to sufficient water which consequently, remains the cardinal role of the government cannot be truly over-emphasised. There is no doubt also that there can no be any meaningful survival and development, in the mist of water scarcity.
Understanding that contingent cases of scarcity must occur, it thus require the process of demand identification and working out modalities to meet those demands. In other words, government at all levels, must sacrosantly, make provision of water available to the populace.
However, as part of the State government’s plan to make sustainable and potable water available to it’s citizens particularly, inhabitants of Enugu Metropolis as well as people living in remote rural enclaves, the administration of Gov.Ugwuanyi embarked on water projects to handle the people’s increasing demand for water.
Anyone or group who fails to recognize that under Gov. Ugwuanyi, Enugu State has gone up many notches in the area of basic infrastructural development, is not interested in truth and reality.
In as much as rural areas in various states across Nigeria continues to face varying degrees of neglect from their state governments, Gov. Ugwuanyi has proven to be different among other States Chief Executives. The clear cut difference is clearly demonstrated in his patriotic zeal, political will and effective strategies to address rural based issues. One of such is the construction of water projects in the designated rural markets across the State. It is worthy of note that market which is an important aspect of the nation’s economy, requires adequate planning and funding, in other to meet up with it’s basic infrastructural demands. This demand can not be swept under the rug by any leader who is interested in lifting his people out of economic quagmire as it thus, had formed part of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s resolve, to major into market development and rehabilitation. God’s willing, through the concerted efforts of Gov.Ugwuanyi’s led administration, one motorized and seven solar-powered boreholes, were successfully constructed in some of the rural markets and courts across the state.
The beneficiary markets include but not limited to, Eke Ozzi Market, Ogurute, Enugu Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government and Ezinese Market Square located in Agbaja, Umumba, Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government, both in Enugu State. Other markets that benefited from Gov.Ugwuanyi’s largess include; Ogige Market in Nsukka, Nsukka LGA, Orie Orba Market in Udenu Local Government Area and Nkwo Ibeagwa – Aka Market, in Igbo-Eze South LGA.
In a similar development, the same gesture has been extended to the Judiciary arm of government in other to maintain and promote proper hygiene and public health standard in it’s facilities. Gov. Ugwuanyi in addition, constructed water project facilities at the Magistrate court and High court, both situated in Nsukka.
Recall that the administration of Gov. Ugwuanyi has been able to develop adequate framework to tackle water scarcity in the Enugu metropolis and other remote areas in the state.
At one time, we witnessed the disbursement of the sum of N5Million Community Development Fund to all the Autonomous Communities in the State, by Rt.Hon Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi. The grand intervention which was part of the administration of Gov.Ugwuanyi resolve to redirect development to the age-long neglected rural Communities, provided a platform for the beneficiary Communities to identify, various Community priority needs and demands, and subsequently, utilize the funds made available, in developing projects that would address their concern. To give more meaning to the initiative, most Communities took advantage of the Governor’s intervention, to construct boreholes at various strategic places in their various Communities.
Governor Ugwuanyi is not a noise maker and his administration’s stride are inadequately reported and assessed in the court of public opinion.
It would be in the favour of our collective interest, if our contemporary leaders can emulate the positive leadership qualities of Gov. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi.
Bibian Anekwe News… added… The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.
Written by
GIBSON UCHENNA ILOZURU
A POLITICAL ANALYST
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER: ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
