REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
Abia State government says it is part of the six states selected to benefit from the $700 million World Bank-funded water and sanitation initiative tagged Sustainable Urban, Rural and Water Sanitation Hygiene, SURWASH, project in Nigeria.
Speaking to Newsmen at the Government House Umuahia on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu said the SURWASH project, would improve access to potable water and sanitation across the state.
The Commissioner explained that the initiative covers both urban and rural areas and was designed to strengthen water supply systems and hygiene practices. .
Prince Kanu also disclosed that the USAID Small-Town Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project, formerly suspended by the United States government, has now resumed under a new funding arrangement facilitated by Mercy Corps noting that
the project will entail the rehabilitation of both urban and rural water schemes in the state.
Prince Kanu highlighted developments in the state’s power sector, including the issuance of three interim electricity licences by the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority to New Era, Aba Power Limited and Geometric Power amongst others
He further disclosed that the state has commenced the installation of a 1.8 megawatt microgrid solar power project to supply electricity to the Central Bus Terminals in Umuahia and Aba, in line with the clean energy transition agenda of the Otti led government.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday,
added that the SURWASH initiative covers projects across the three senatorial zones, targeting both water and sanitation improvements.
The Commissioner explained that the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation project, which experienced delays due to funding challenges linked to changes in the United States Agency for International Development programme, has now secured a new financier.
