ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT FLAGS OFF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEWASH PROGRAMME IN THE STATE AT IKEM ISIOROTO

REPORTER: IFESINACHI UGWUEZE

Enugu State government has restated its commitment towards providing basic amenities for the people especially at the grassroots to improve their living conditions.

The State Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba stated this at Isioroto Ikem-Uno Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, during the official flag-off of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene programme in Enugu State.

Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, PEWASH was a programme initiated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and launched by the Federal Government in twenty-sixteen. The aim was to achieve the goal number six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The programme was designed to address challenges faced in the water supply and sanitation sub-sector by ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

At the flag-off, the Governor of Enugu State Dr. Peter Mbah who was represented by the State Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr. Felix Nnamani noted that the State government had demonstrated its readiness to ensure that communities in need benefited maximally by fulfilling the State’s financial commitment towards the implementation of the programme.

“I want to thank His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose ambition is to ensure that Nigerian benefit in every aspect. In fact to provide the basic social amenities that we need for our livelihood. So our gratitude to him and to the honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation who is driving all this across the states of the federation. On our part as government, we all know that there are conditions for the government to meet before you participate in any federal government programme and project. So, for PEWASH, Enugu State Government has paid our own counterpart funds and met all the criteria for us to be here today.”

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Mr. Joseph Terlumun who was represented by Mr. Sunday Agu while commending the State government for keying into the programme emphasized on equal commitment in the implementation.

He further urged the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, ENRUWASSA to adhere strictly to specifications to achieve the goals.

_“This event is a fulfilment of the mandate of the PEWASH Programme to officially notify the general public on the implementation of the programme in the State. Since its inception at the national level in 2016, the PEWASH programme has served as a collaborative platform between the federal government, state governments, development partners, private sectors and communities for accelerating attainment of the SDG six, ensuring availability and sustainability management of water and sanitation for all. It must be emphasized that for the full gain of the PEWASH programme to be realized there must be equal commitment to the programme implementation by all partners in accordance with the PEWASH programme. …”

“It is a privilege to congratulate His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State Dr. Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for making the implementation of the PEWASH programme a reality in the State. Permit me to inform you that some of the challenges in WASH sector has been linked to frequent water supply system failure due to non-adherence to contract specifications and poor construction practices which we must be ready to guard against. Finally on it part, RUWASSA officials must fulfill its own obligation of ensuring quality delivery of projects by strictly following laid down guidelines and specification from commencement of the project to completion.”
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Earlier in an address, the Managing Director, Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mrs Chika Mbah described the event as a milestone in the collective effort to ensure access to clean, safe and sustainable water in rural areas.

She explained that the project which aimed to promote hygiene, improve public health, reduce the spread of waterborne diseases and empower the people would be implemented in five communities from each of the six selected Local Government Areas identified with critical need for safe water, in the first phase.

“As part of the preparatory phase to this flag-off, the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASSA) through its technical team visited six local government areas identified for this intervention. Thorough assessments were carried out to evaluate existing water sources and determined the most appropriate site for new borehole construction and rehabilitation of old ones. From each of these local government areas, five communities were carefully selected. Some for new construction, and others for rehabilitation based on technical findings, accessibility and the needs of the people.”

According to Mrs Mbah, it is expected that the water projects will be completed before the end of the year.

In a welcome speech, the Vice Chairman Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Dr. Cyril Nnamchi who represented his boss Mr. Obiora Obeagu, pointed out that the project was a testament that the State Governor was committed to improving the living conditions of the people. He promised that the Council would support the project implementation so as to achieve the desired goal.

Some community members including the Traditional Ruler of Ikem Nkwo, Igwe Pius Kachi Nnamani, the President General of Ikem Uno, Chief Stephen Ugwuodo and Mrs. Josephine Nnaji thanked the government for coming to their aid and pledged to cooperate and take ownership of the project.

There were goodwill messages from the representatives of the Commissioners Ministries of Water Resources and Health as well as the executive Chairman, Udenu Local Government Area, Aka Eze Aka.