Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, will on Tuesday, July 15th, flag off the rehabilitation of the Aba Regional Water Scheme as part of his administration’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of restoring potable water supply for domestic and industrial use in Aba and Umuahia.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor.
“In line with the Governor’s mandate to provide potable water supply to Aba and the state generally, the government has awarded the contract to Verna Carver Limited to revamp the scheme under the first phase of the project.
“Of course, we know that this forms part of the Governor’s campaign promises, and a major one indeed,” the Commissioner stated.
According to Prince Kanu, Governor Otti would on the same day also launch the Integrated WASH Accelerated Program (IWAP), an initiative designed to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services across the State.
He added that Governor Otti would also commission a 150KVA Solar Power System with a 430KW battery storage capacity, pointing out that the facility is designed to power health centres with renewable energy, thereby reducing dependence on the national grid.
Prince Kanu explained that the Aba Regional Water Scheme, located within the CKC Church premises in Aba, is designed to provide safe and reliable water supply to a Aba’s residents.
He noted that the IWAP, situated at the newly constructed WASH facility at Okigwe Park, Umuahia, aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring safe, sustainable, and readily available water and sanitation services.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, said that the water schemes to be rehabilitated in Aba include the Obohia Waterside, Obohia Water Intake, Ariaria Water Scheme, and the CKC Water Scheme.
He revealed that the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed within six months, aims to restore the schemes’ capacity to produce well-treated water that meets World Health Organization standards.
Mr. Monday while pointing out that the state government is currently constructing about ten modern WASH facilities, disclosed that the rehabilitation of water schemes in Umuahia and its environs will commence later this year.
He noted that the newly installed 150KVA solar power system with 430KW battery storage at the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, will provide sufficient electricity for critical hospital facilities.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr. Matthew Ekwuribe, announced that the ministry is currently beautifying the FMC Gate and the Osisioma Flyover, and will soon begin erecting monuments at strategic locations across the state.
He added that the ministry has launched a Creative Talent Hunt across all 17 local government areas to discover and nurture promising talents and revealed that the Ministry is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and UNESCO to ensure that Aba is recognised as a Creative City.
