Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Commissioner for Public Utilities, Water Resources and Community Development in Anambra state, Engr. Emeka Ezenwanne, has assured citizens of the state of government resolve to supply more water for communities.
Ezenwanne said the decision became very necessary especially as more water facilities were required for hand-washing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.
He said that the present state government was currently revamping all water schemes across Anambra state with a view to ensuring their functionality and access by citizens of the state even though he expressed deep concern that vandalisation of public utilities was the order of the day.
The commissioner maintained that despite the capital intensiveness of water projects, some disgruntled elements vandalised the facilities, thereby sabotaging government efforts and destroying what was meant for public good.
He therefore disclosed that Governor Willie Obiano’s administration has come up with a strategy to ensure the survival and longevity of water facilities and other projects across the state.
According to him, the state government has taken a bold and courageous step to ensure that communities take full responsibility and ownership of government facilities in their respective domains to guarantee their sustainability.
The commissioner said, “We have done a whole lot in the area of water provision especially now that we are talking about the COVID-19 pandemic. We have done more than 150 boreholes in different communities and we also have over 1000 water facilities located in all the communities in the state.”
He said there was no community in Anambra state that lacked water especially as government has taken a fervent decision to always make water available for domestic and industrial use.
Ezenwanne noted, “Government is begging communities to take ownership of the facilities so that once they are provided, people can use them on a sustainable basis. If you go round, you see a big investment done by His Excellency and somebody will go and steal the pump.”
“His Excellency has also established the Public Facility Management Team that is in charge of liaising with communities to make sure that communities take ownership of these facilities.
“The governor has equally discovered a latest veritable solution to project sustainability in Anambra state which is concession of most of the water projects. I therefore encourage Ndi-Anambra to take ownership of these projects for the good of all and sundry.”