Ekiti, like most states in Nigeria, is faced with the challenge of non availability of save drinking water. The problem is however compounded by the seeming criminal neglect of the water sector by the successive administration in the state .
The availability of adequate water supply both in quality and quantity is essential for human existence. With the exponential increase in population, access to improved water remains an important pre-condition for sustaining human life, maintaining eco systems and for achieving sustainable development.
Experts have said that 61 percent of the Nigeria Population have access to Basic Drinking Water while 42perecent have basic sanitation services .Eleven percent of the nation’s population suffered diarrhea and 75 percent of those affected are children under five.
In Nigeria recent findings have revealed that most communities do not have access to one of the essential needs of man.
The story is not different in Ado-Ekiti ,the capital of Ekiti
State ,where residents depend largely on water from open wells for most daily activities and consumption .While the privileged few patronized water vendors and sachet water merchants .
The situation usually became worse during the dry season when residents move around with jerry cans scooping water from few available water points ,usually provided by religion houses ,petrol stations ,banks and others offering social responsibility to their host communities .
In Ado-Ekiti,names like Suleiman Akinbami Petroleum Limited will readily comes to mind among Good Samaritan giving water to the people at his numerous companies dotted the state capital for free.
A mother of three ,Bunmi Adebayo is a water vendor and an indigene of Osan community in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State
Sharing her experience with journalists ,Mrs Adebayo said she wakes up as early as 4am every day to get the water from a dirty pond at the entrance of the community. Bunmi recently lost her five-month-old pregnancy due to fatigue encountered while getting water from the stream.
The continuous neglect of water and sanitation issues in the state by past and present administrations has brought the state to a pitiable position in the committee of state governments. Many indigenes have suffered serious health challenges, while some communities are at the edge of extinction due to lack of portable water and proper hygiene.
A traditional ruler in Osan Ekiti, a community in Moba, Local Government Area of the state, Oba Jimoh Tajudeen Bamidele,also complained of water problem .
In his words,’’I have tried my best since I inherited this throne five years ago to bring water, but all my efforts is useless, because there was no support from the government. Particularly, the road leading to our community has been destroyed many years ago and the water pipe underneath is bad.
In response to the deplorable condition of Water Supply Service in the country ,the 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project was launched in 2014.The vision is to be the best self-sustaining and financially viable water agency in Nigeria.
It is expected that the project would increase access to improved water supply in selected cities and urban centers in three states of Ekiti ,Bauchi and Rivers .
The Ekiti State House of Assembly during the first tenure of governor Kayode Fayemi gave the required legislative framework for the successful take off of the project in Ekiti .
The project has mapped out 22 quarters within and around Ado-Ekiti where the project will cover..And the project has reached advanced stages in the designated areas with the laying of water pipes .
Some of the areas includes Ekute,Onigari GRA,,Fajuyi Adebayo and pathfinder ,all in Ado-Ekiti.Iworoko which hosted the state university is not left put .
The state government has also commenced the payment of about N30million disturbance allowances to over 470 projects to the affected persons covering areas of Oke Ila in Ado-Ekiti and Iworoko .And another payment to 200 projects covering peace avenue ,Nova adebayo ,Ajowa and Akingbisin among others .
As part of its mandate ,the project prepares a hydraulic model for Ekiti water supply newt work at the state level and a more specific hydraulic model for the distribution system in Ado-Ekiti .
” Strengthening and expansion of network infrastructure in selected parts of Ado-Ekiti including rehabilitation and improvement of the intake works ,water treatment plants ,storage pumping ,transmission and distribution and development of ground water sources .And provision of equipment required for water quality Analysis ,quality control ,maintenance and other operational duties .”
Also recently governor Fayemi flagged off a $56million Ero Dam turnaround project with an assurance to meeting 85 percent water needs of the people of the state
With the commencement of the project ,Fayemi said he had declared emergency in the water sector in Ekiti .
The project is being handled by Sagittarius Henan Engineering and it is expected to be completed within 18 months.
In his speech at the project site in Ikun Ekiti , Moba Local government ,the governor explained that the project would involve rehabilitation of main transmission pipelines from Ifaki. Ekiti to Ado ,-Ekiti the state capital.
He hinted that the emergency was in line with the step taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, who had initiated similar policy under a programme called Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in partnership with the world bank.
He said the WASH programme of the federal government and world bank was initiated to reduce amount being paid by Nigerians on hospital bills after contacting all forms of diseases from unhygienic water sources.
Fayemi said statistics had shown that water supply to urban cities and rural areas in the country have reduced by 15 and 4 percent respectively, in spite of geometric increase in the population.
He explained that the project would among other things reduce the level of water borne diseases in Ekiti.
The governor added that the state had paid a staggering sum of N700m counterpart fund to complete the project that was approved by the world bank in 2014. “It was because of the safety of the citizens that the federal government declared emergency in WASH. So, Ekiti has keyed into the programme with this project.
“Part of what accounted for high practice of open defecation was because of low water supply to our homes.
“We are making our traditional rulers as champions that would canvass for open defecation free and if we are going to stop our palaces from digging boreholes here and there, we as government should provide water to our people.
” We have done our feasibility studies, 85 percent of our water in Ekiti shall be provided by Ero and Egbe dams if they operate at optimal capacity”, he said.
The governor assured that affordable tariff will be charged by government and that such will be metred to prevent extortion.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities, Mr Olumide Ajayi, said rehabilitation on Egbe dam located in Gbonyin local government was being co-financed by European Union and Ekiti State.
Ajayi said the two projects will supply water to over 66 towns across nine local government in the state.
He urged the beneficiaries to be ready to pay affordable tariffs and maintain the facilities when competed.
The General manager , Ekiti State water corporation, Engr Olabisi Agbeyo, revealed that this is the first time major rehabilitation will be carried out on Ero dam in 33 years.
“As we speak, Ekiti not owing a kobo as counterpart payment we have paid up and this shows how committed the state was in water supply”, Agbeyo said.
The governor has also restored the production of the popular table water brand,’GOSSY WATER ‘ a year after the parent company was liquidated.
The Governor recalled that the bottling company was established as a joint business venture under Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, the first civilian Governor of the State and the investment “made waves in the market thereby boosting the IGR of the State and creating job opportunities for the citizens”.
He described the revitalisation of the company as another milestone in the state government’s determined efforts to revive moribund projects in Ekiti State.
“I am particularly excited about this development because of its expected multiplier effects on the economic lives of the people and governance in the State. I therefore congratulate Ekiti kete, home and abroad, for the restoration of this company which is an offshoot of one of our most prominent tourist attractions, the Ikogosi Warm Springs”, he said.
End
