Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has flagged off the rehabilitation and resuscitation of the Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes at a cost of N1.3 billion as part of activities marking his third anniversary in office.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Laguru, Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Governor Otti described access to clean and potable water as essential to human existence, regretting that many lives had been lost as a result of unsafe drinking water.
The Governor noted that his administration had prioritised the provision of potable water across the state as one of its critical development programmes.
According to the Governor, the Aba Regional Water Scheme at CKC, Aba, has reached about 95 per cent completion, explaining that the Ariaria water scheme would further strengthen water supply to the commercial city.
“Water is so critical to life and a lot of people have passed on because of unsafe water and that is why this government has taken it as one of it’s critical projects to ensure that we have potable water across the state”, he said.
Governor Otti revealed that the project could have been completed and commissioned years earlier but for setbacks caused by the kidnapping of a project team from the United States involved in the initiative.
The governor also attributed the delays to the withdrawal of support under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following policy changes introduced during the administration of President Donald Trump.
He expressed appreciation to Mercy Corps for its support amounting to N1.3 billion towards the execution of the project and commended the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, for his dedication and persistence which culminated in the commencement of the initiative.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said the project aligns with the Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme introduced by the Governor Alex Otti administration last year.
He stated that through the intervention, the government was restoring dignity to the people by improving access to clean water and sanitation services.
Monday explained that the project involves the rehabilitation of the Ubakala water scheme with a 1.5-kilometre transmission pipeline and a 2.5-kilometre transmission pipeline for the Ariaria scheme, designed to serve approximately 600 households.
He also commended Mercy Corps for partnering with the state government towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
Also speaking, the Country Director Director of Mercy Corps, Liberia and Nigeria, Mr Rabiu Sani, represented by the Senior Infrastructure Manager, Alfred Obeten, said the project represents a joint investment of N1.3 billion between the organisation and the Abia State Government.
He said the organisation aims to reach about 10,000 people annually through the intervention.
Sani explained that Mercy Corps, a humanitarian organisation operating in more than 40 countries, had remained committed to supporting communities through interventions aimed at providing access to water and improving livelihoods.
He added that the project scope includes the rehabilitation of existing boreholes and pumps as well as the installation of 280 solar panels with a capacity of 580 watts each.
“The first project which is LotA1 is based there in Ariaria and it is value at N619 million or less the approximately N620 million.
“It is expected to reach at least 10,000 people per year. The scope includes rehabilitation of the existing boreholes.
“The second project is Lot A2 Ubakala water supply Scheme. The value is currently standing at N659,520,000 thousand and the rest.
“So together these two projects represents a combined investment of at least almost N1.3 billion, courtesy of Mexico in partnership with Abia State Government”, Sani said.
According to him, the project is also aimed at improving public health and reducing dependence on unsafe water sources.
