To keep residents of Onitsha, Anambra State commercial capital, and its environs in good supply of clean water, the state government is rehabilitating the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme. The government has concluded plans to extend the water scheme to Obosi, Ogidi, Nkpor, Nkwelle Nzunaka and Umunya, among others. Also, the Peter Obi-led administration is considering rehabilitating the Ogidi Water Scheme which has been abandoned for over a decade. Already, the scheme has reached over 67 per cent completion stage. It would be reticulated to 4.5 kilometers into the roads of Ogidi for the people to extend it into their compounds. Governor Obi has assured that the scheme would soon become operational as a lot of improvement had been recorded in the rehabilitation of the abandoned scheme. He further explained that when completed, the government will partner with the community for the management of the facility to encourage the people to take full ownership and ensure proper management, maintenance and sustainability of the scheme. The Commissioner for Public Utility and Water Resources, Mr. Emeka Nwankwu said the facility was part of Onitsha Greater Water Scheme with 40,000 cubic water reservoirs that supplied water to Ogidi and its environs. Mr. Nwankwu further explained that the present reconstruction which costs the N77 million included two boreholes, a new electricity generating set and reticulation to 4.5km. The President-General of Ogidi Town Union, Eric Obiakor said the Governor’s various interventions had restored hope to the people, even as he assured him that they would reciprocate his gesture by being alive to their civic responsibilities, including prompt payment of taxes and water rate. The governor, who recently was presented an award for the best performing Governor in the South-East by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, also inspected Obosi, Oba and Umuoji towns’ water schemes. For the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme, Governor Obi assured that the first phase of the resuscitation of the scheme would be completed this year. He lamented the destruction of the facility during which components worth several millions of naira were carted away. Governor Obi, who disclosed this while inspecting the project, said the completion of the first phase would make the scheme functional before the end of the year. He recalled that previous attempts by the Federal Government to intervene on the project did not yield any result and how major components of the facility have been vandalised over the years; leaving only the panel boxes. He said the project is now properly funded and that he had given the contractor deadline for its completion. Mr. Emeka Nwankwu also said that the scheme constructed in 1998, has been abandoned since 2001, prompting the intervention of the present administration. He explained that the project is under public-private partnership and will include rehabilitation and expansion of tank from 45,000 cubic meters to 60,000 cubic meters capacity as well as building another intake structure at Nkpor.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 04:40:22 +0000
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