The immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources and current Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development in Ebonyi State, Mr. Magnus Chinedu Nkah, has said the state government has rehabilitated three of its five major water schemes as part of efforts to provide potable water to residents across the state.
Nkah disclosed this during an official handover ceremony held in his honour at Ochudo Centenary City, Government House, Abakaliki, where he reflected on his stewardship in the Ministry of Water Resources before his redeployment to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
He said the administration inherited a situation where pipe-borne water was virtually non-existent across the state but restored water supply shortly after he assumed office.
"When I took over the Ministry of Water Resources, there was nothing like water running in Ebonyi State. Barely one month after assuming office, residents began experiencing regular water supply again," he said.
The former commissioner said the rehabilitation of water infrastructure was in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru's People's Charter of Needs agenda, which prioritises the restoration of potable water through the rehabilitation of existing water schemes.
According to him, three of the state's five major water schemes including Ezillo, Oferekpe and the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme have been fully rehabilitated and are now operational, while work on the Ishiagu Water Scheme has reached an advanced stage, with only electromechanical installations and pipeline works remaining.
He added that the Ikwo Water Scheme is the only major facility yet to undergo rehabilitation.
Nkah said the Ezillo Water Scheme is already supplying water to Abakaliki metropolis and communities along the transmission corridor, including Ugwuachara and neighbouring areas, with water being pumped into the Central Reservoir for distribution across the capital city.
"The strategy is to fill the Central Reservoir before releasing water to the entire city. Residents can already attest to the progress we have made," he stated.
He expressed confidence that every part of Ebonyi State would have access to pipe-borne water before the end of the current administration if ongoing projects are sustained.
The former commissioner said his administration had laid a solid foundation for his successor to expand the state's water reticulation network to more communities while intensifying the provision of boreholes in rural areas awaiting connection to the public water supply system.
He further disclosed that a new reservoir is under construction at Isicha Forest in Ezza to extend water supply from the Oferekpe Water Scheme to surrounding communities, while the Iboko Water Reservoir has been completed.
Nkah also revealed that the rehabilitation of the old Sakamori water distribution line along the Abakaliki Ring Road has been captured in the state's current budget.
He explained that, upon completion, the project would provide pipe-borne water to several communities located along the Ring Road corridor.
Nkah maintained that although the government did not promise to complete all water projects within its first three years in office, it had made significant progress in expanding access to potable water across the state.
"We have done a lot within three years. Very soon, water will be coming into the capital city from different directions through the Ezillo, Oferekpe and Old Abakaliki water schemes. The foundations have been laid, and I believe the new commissioner will build on them," he said.
