The Ebonyi State Government has stepped up efforts to improve access to potable water across the state by rehabilitating abandoned water schemes and expanding water reticulation to major urban centres and public facilities.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Victor Chukwu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abakaliki, saying the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru had committed significant resources to restoring water infrastructure that had remained inactive for several years.
Chukwu said the ongoing rehabilitation was part of the state government’s broader strategy to address water supply challenges and strengthen existing infrastructure rather than abandon old projects in favour of entirely new ones.
He expressed optimism that the intervention would increase water availability across Ebonyi communities in the coming months.
He said more than N16 billion had been spent on the project as of 2013 before it became inactive, stressing that rehabilitating the facility would help preserve the public investment already made.
One of the major projects receiving attention, according to the commissioner, is the Oferekpe Water Scheme, which he described as a critical facility capable of significantly improving water supply in the state.
He said more than N16 billion had been spent on the project as of 2013 before it became inactive, stressing that rehabilitating the facility would help preserve the public investment already made.
Chukwu explained that the Oferekpe scheme could return to full operation once the obstruction affecting the movement of water into its central reservoir was resolved.
The commissioner also disclosed that the government had rehabilitated the Ezillo Water Scheme and the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme.
He said the Ezillo facility was already operational and supplying water to parts of Abakaliki, although ageing pipelines, rust and leakages were affecting distribution.
According to him, damaged pipelines, vandalism and leakages resulting from prolonged disuse remain among the major obstacles to restoring uninterrupted water supply across Abakaliki.
He added that engineers were expected to carry out some repairs when the water level in the Azuiyioku River reduces during the dry season.
On the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme, Chukwu said sections of the pipelines connecting the low-lift and high-lift systems had been affected by developmental activities around the area.
He further noted that some equipment had been vandalised or cannibalised during the years the facilities remained inactive.
The commissioner said the state government had released funds for the rehabilitation of electromechanical equipment, completion of outstanding works and procurement of water-treatment materials needed to restore the affected facilities.
Chukwu maintained that the government’s decision to rehabilitate existing water infrastructure was consistent with Governor Nwifuru’s emphasis on continuity in governance and responsible management of public resources.
He argued that abandoning viable projects inherited from previous administrations and starting new ones would amount to wasting investments already made by the government.
The commissioner cited the Oferekpe Water Scheme as an example, noting that constructing a completely new water project under current economic conditions would cost considerably more than restoring infrastructure on which billions of naira had already been spent.
Beyond the rehabilitation of major water schemes, Chukwu said the ministry had also extended water reticulation to the International Market and other markets in Abakaliki.
He said the government planned to ensure that major populated public facilities across the state had access to direct potable water supply.
“Our intention is that every populated public place in the state will have direct water supply from us,” Chukwu said.
He added that the ministry would intensify water reticulation in the coming months, with greater attention given to both urban and rural communities.
Chukwu also dismissed claims that the state government was incapable of providing adequate access to clean water, pointing to ongoing investments in water infrastructure.
However, he acknowledged that Ebonyi State still faced challenges linked to ageing facilities, pipeline maintenance, water infrastructure protection and vandalism.
The commissioner called for an end to the politicisation of water supply issues, urging stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts based on developments on the ground.
He said the Nwifuru administration was focused on completing and maximising existing infrastructure while also developing new projects where necessary.
“Administrations will come, administrations will go, but the state remains,” Chukwu said, stressing that government investments should ultimately provide lasting benefits for residents of Ebonyi State.
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