Ebonyi begins public water supply 12 years after scheme destruction

• Commissioner warns against pipe leakages

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State government has commenced public water supply across Abakaliki, the state capital.

The state has been without public water for about twelve years since some water schemes were destroyed without being repaired.

The present administration, however, reactivated the water schemes and commenced the distribution of water to the residents of Abakaliki and its environs.

Daily Sun saw public water running in Ezeobodo Lane by Nnorom Street, Goddy Ogbaga Avenue, Emefo Street, St. Patrick Primary School Kpirikpiri, Udemezue Street, among other streets in the metropolis.

Residents of the areas were seen fetching the public water from taps and praising the state government for it.

One of them, Mrs. Vincent Nnenna Okorie, said she has been spending N500 daily to buy borehole water and commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for restoring public water to the state.

“Today is my first day of fetching this public water and I thank God for restoring this water to the state because water is life. At least, I didn’t go to the borehole today to buy water.

“I always spend N500 to buy borehole water. I have been relieved today because this N500 I would have spent on borehole water can serve as pepper money for me,” she said.

Another resident, Maduka Kingsley, said he has been enjoying the public water since last week.

“Public water started running in our area since last year, but it later stopped. But since last week, we have been enjoying it steadily, and I commend our dear governor for it,” he stated.

Acting Commissioner of Water Resources Franklin Ukah, who monitored the pumping of the water from the Ezilo water scheme to the water reservoir at Abakaliki, said that Governor Nwifuru was determined to provide portable water to the residents of the state.

Ukah, who also moved round the streets of Abakaliki to monitor the supply of water to various residential houses, expressed shock that some individual taps were damaged, thereby leaking and wasting the water.

He warned landlords and caretakers of residential houses to repair and safeguard their water pipes and taps, stressing that defaulters would be arrested and their houses sealed for economic sabotage.

He said that the Ezilo water scheme has commenced the supply of water, while the largest scheme at Oferekpe has been completed, awaiting a test run and full supply of water to Abakaliki.

“We have water schemes in Oferekpe and Ezilo which have been completed, while the Ukawu and Ishiagu schemes are nearing completion. When the schemes are completed, water will be reticulated across the state.”