From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Federal Government has flagged off a water supply project in Benue state with a pledge to continue to prioritise the provision of potable water to the citizens.
Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev made this pledge on Thursday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project at Gboko Water Treatment Plant valued at N18.89 billion at Ameladu, Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
The minister said the Water Supply Project is a critical initiative that will provide clean and safe drinking water to the people of Buruku, Gboko and their environs.
Utsev said the gesture is a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to improving the lives of its citizens by providing them with the necessities of life in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project which was initially conceived as ‘‘Gboko-Yandev Water Supply System’’ is currently named ‘’Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Buruku /Gboko Water Supply Project’’ and is located approximately 70 to 90 kilometres South-East of Makurdi.
“Due to insufficient water supply in the Gboko-Yandev area, the Benue State Government then Plateau State appointed Messrs Lahmeyer International, Consulting Engineers, Frankfurt/Main, Germany to carry out Feasibility Study and detailed Engineering Design for the Gboko-Yandev Water Supply Project.
“The Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme in Benue State is aimed at resuscitating the vandalized existing water works at Ameladu, Mkar in Gboko LGA and Buruku Water Supply Scheme in a bid to improve the lives of the residents estimated at about 506,000 people through accessing portable water and reducing the risk of water borne diseases.
“The extraction of water is from the Katsina Ala river by the intake structure at the shore of the river which then shall be transported for a distance of about 17km for purification/treatment and distribution as portable water supply to Gboko/Mkar communities as well as to neighbouring communities.
“The Federal Government’s intervention is meant to accelerate access to clean and potable water in the country towards meeting National and Internationally set targets. It is meant to further jobs creation, stimulate economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life for our citizens.
“This project is made possible through the approval of the Federal Executive Council under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project to Messrs Ceylon Construction Services Limited at the total contract sum of N18,893,279,411.42 only with a completion period of 18 months.”
He urged the contractors to work towards delivering the project effectively and timely to achieve the value for efforts, time and money committed to the project.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, said the resuscitation of the project which has been abandoned for decades is a demonstration and commitment to the importance the President attaches to improving the well-being of its citizens through the provision of water.
Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, the governor intimated that his government has awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the Katsina-Ala and Otobi water works respectively at the cost of N1.5 billion.
“At Ugbema, Buruku LGA, country home of the Minister, he flagged off the construction of a Mega water project which is expected to supply water to over 500,000 inhabitants, as well as the Dura Dam meant for irrigation and future hydro power generation.”