The federal government through, the federal ministry of water resources, has commissioned multiple projects at the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA), Owerri, Imo State in South-East Nigeria.
A statement from the ministry, signed by the director of press and public relations, Mrs Kenechukwu Offie, said this is in continuation of the federal government’s commitment to delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians and in line with President Buhari’s promise to lift 100 million out of poverty in ten years.
The minister of water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, while commissioning the 500, 000 litres-per-day Ezealakpaka Water Supply Scheme, Ehime Mbano, said it will serve over 10,000 people of the community and its environs.
According to him, the contract for the water scheme was executed within the contract duration by Messrs Roudo Nigeria Limited, which has major elements of works, including the drilling of 6N0s boreholes, the construction of 500 cubic meters still ground water storage tanks, the construction of 250 cubic meters elevated water tank on an 18-meter stanchion, and the construction of solar-powered pumping system.
Others are the construction of a 22-kilometer reticulation network, the supply and installation of 50-cubic-metre-per-hour water treatment plant, and the supply of 18N0s of 60Wats all-in-one solar lightning system.
Adamu added that the quality of the treated water from the scheme has been subjected to laboratory testing and found to meet national and international standards for drinking water.
Speaking further, he noted that to ensure sustained management and maintenance of the water scheme, some of the community members had been trained on various aspects of running the scheme by the contractor as part of his contractual obligations.
The minister informed that the federal government’s water supply intervention in Imo State was not limited to the Ezealakpaka Water Supply Project. Other intervention projects include the Inyinshi Water Supply Project and some in different local government areas in the state.
He enjoined the Imo State government to own the projects and ensure that its relevant agencies sustainably operated and maintained the water supply facilities in order to provide long term services to the people.
Some of the projects, which are located within the perimeter premises of the AIRBDA includ the ANIM Basin Water Factory, Integrated Palm Oil Mill, Integrated Songhai Farm, which has vegetables, fishery, poultry, piggery, grass cutter, goat and cattle sections. Other projects commissioned are the newly renovated police station, the newly constructed training centre and the multi- purpose hall.
In his address, the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his administration’s numerous infrastructure provided in Imo State. He also called on themiinister to expand the water projects in order to benefit other adjoining communities.
Earlier, the managing director of AIRBDA, Gerrard Osuagwu, stated that all the projects commissioned by the minister were pro- people projects and initiated purposely to positively impact the lives of the people of the communities.
He reiterated that the projects would create wealth, provide jobs for the teaming youth and generate internal revenue for the AIRBDA. Osuagwu explained that he willfully expanded the Songhai Farm into an integrated system, where no produce is lost, and that what is got in one chain would be used in another.
While commending the minister, Osuagwu said “the minister has passion for whatever is doing. He has ‘the can do spirit,’ and he is someone who wants to achieve at all costs, someone who makes sure that all the people working with him will follow instructions and achieve targets.”
