Abia state government has said that in line with the Federal government declaration of state emergency in the water sector, it is committed in providing clean, safe and portable water to its citizenry.
The State Governor, Dr Okezie lkpeazu,who stated this during a courtesy call by USAID/E-WASH delegation on a 90 Day Emergency Plan at the Government House Umuahia,noted that his administration knows the importance of water in achieving the cardinal policy on health as most diseases suffered by the people are associated with the use of unclean and unsafe water.
Governor Ikpeazu who pleaded with the USAID/E-WASH delegation to extend the 90-Day Emergency Plan deadline to enable the government use the window period to tidy up things needed for their intervention plan and pleaded with them for the release of the already approved fund.
Represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the governor commended the USAID/E-WASH team for choosing Abia for their intervention programme aimed at providing safe and clean water to people and reassured them of all the needed support and disclosed that government had already began an effective arrangement to provide the citizens with clean water .
Earlier in his speech,the Commissioner For Public Utility And Water Resources, Chief Chidiebere Nwoke,lamented the unhealthy state of water consumed by Nigerians which he said led the FG to declare a state of emergency on the water sector,as well as the practice of open air defecation and appealed for the release of the already approved fund for the intervention plan of USAID/E-WASH 90 Day Emergency Plan to enable citizens access to safe and clean water, as well as promote the health of all by reducing waterborne diseases.
The General Manager, Abia State Water Board And Sewage Cooperation, Chief Leo Ogbonna ,in his own speech stressed the need for government to utilise the opportunity offered by the USAID/E-WASH programme to reactivate moribund water schemes to enable water flow again in our public taps by providing the needed funds as the State was lucky to be chosen to benefit from the scheme which will be of immense benefit to all.
In his remarks, the Chief Of Party USAID /E-WASH and leader of the delegation, said that they are in the State to ascertain the level of preparedness for the take off of the provision of safe water in the state and decried the non functioning of public pumps resulting to indiscriminate use of boreholes that do not meet accepted standard which increased the rate at which people suffer from diseases in our various hospitals, urged government to endeavor to meet the requirement for their intervention targeted at six states of the federation.
He said that they were in the State to access her level of preparedness for their intervention of providing safe and healthy water.
