N7.6bn Ebonyi Water Scheme Ready In July

The N7.6 billion Oferekpe Water Scheme in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi will be ready for use by July, Mr Rafi Cohen, the Project Manager, has said.

Cohen last Thursday during an inspection of the site by Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information, as part of his national good governance tour of the state, that the delay in the project awarded in 2008 was caused by factors which included delay in delivery of needed equipment, and changes in climate conditions, among others.

“The equipment are all here and the connection of ductile pipes to Abakaliki and other parts of the town have reached an advanced stage,” he said.

He remarked that the scheme had the capacity of pumping more than 700 cubic litres of water daily and was expected to meet the water needs of the populace.

In his remark,Governor  Martin Elechi, said all the three water schemes in the state (Oferekpe, Ukawu and Ezillo) were integrated to ensure effective delivery of water to the people.

“This is to ensure that in the case of maintenance of any of the schemes, the others would continue supplying water to the people,” he said.

The governor said the state had spent more than N8.9 billion for the laying of the pipes which is expected to be completed soon.

Maku, in his reaction, commended the government for executing such gigantic project, noting that it would last for ages.

“Water is an essential ingredient for development, both for human consumption and industrialisation purposes,” he said.

He called on stakeholders, especially the press, to ensure that democratic dividends provided for the people by different tiers of government were reported.