By Sola Ogundipe
Minister of water Resources Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has called for strong partnership between the Federal, State and Local Governments in the provision, rehabilitation, treatment and management of water supply in the country.
Ochekpe who spoke in Jos-North Local Government of Jos, Plateau State, during an inspection of the Greater Jos- Bukuru Water Supply Project by the Committee on Good Governance led by the Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku, said the provision of water supply to the populace was the mandate of all tiers of Government.
Inspecting the facility constructed by the Plateau State Government but currently under rehabilitation, the Minister avowed that that governance was about providing facilities, maintenance and rehabilitation whenever they become obsolete and cannot provide effective service especially as the population increases.
"What the Plateau State Government was doing was rehabilitating the treatment plant and reticulation facilities, that is to expand and replace old pipes to get more water to the communities. For us at the Federal level, we are excited with what Plateau State Government is doing because , to provide portable water to all communities across the country we must have a strong partnership between the States and the Federal Governments and it is very encouraging that Plateau State Government is coming strong on this," she remarked.
The Minister urged other States to emulate the Plateau State Government and join hands with the Federal Government to ensure greater access to water by citizens.
She said that the project embarked upon by the State was to ensure proper management and supply of adequate water to state. She also noted that the pipes they were laying was to replace the aged ones to avoid loss of water as a result of broken pipes under the ground.
Conducting the Good Governance team round the project, the Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources Hon. Idi Waziri said since 1981 there, had not been any major repair on the water supply treatment plant until the coming of the present administration.
He aded that the current rehabilitation therefore comprised all the equipment on the machine and had gulped about N2.2 billion.
Waziri said that after the rehabilitation, it was discovered that the pipes were too old and needed to be replaced not only in that particular treatment plant but also at Laminga and Bukuru metropolises water supply treatment that have the capacity of 18,000 cubic meter and 2,500 cubic meter per day respectively.
The State Government, he said decided to change the old pipes and also to purchase two sets of electrical generator as power supply was one of the challenges in the three water supply treatment plants, also he revealed that there was another water supply treatment plant that was constructed since 1934 which needed to be rehabilitated.
A loan of N8 billion was secured from Zenith Bank to embark on the reticulation, expansion, rehabilitation, and replacement of old pipes as well as purchase of two new electrical generating sets.
