NO WATER CRISIS IN EKITI – ONI’S AIDE

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre has described claim of water crisis in the State by a cleric, Father Raphael Aborisade as uncharitable, saying; “No government in the history of Ekiti State has done what the present government did in two years in terms of provision of water.”

Ojo-Lanre, who urged Men of God to be mindful of their utterances, especially concerning issues on which they are not well knowledgeable, said; “Even the physically impaired knows that water is running in most parts of the State capital and other areas of the State.”

While noting however that water was yet to get to all areas of Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, Ojo-Lanre said that pipes had already being laid in some of the affected areas.

He frowned at a situation whereby in areas where pipes have been laid and fetching points functioning, the residents are still waiting for the government help them take water into their bedroom, adding that; “Government has done its bit by laying water pipes and making them functional, it is the duty of any of the residents, to connect water to their houses.”

“Before Oni assumed office in 2007, provision of pipe borne water was at the lowest ebb. What we had was not up to 10 per cent of what was required. But today, not less than 65 per cent of the populace have access to good water and we are not stopping here. Supply is expected to reach 90 per cent level very soon.

“Contracts ranging from construction/rehabilitation, construction of water fetching points, supply and laying of pipes, construction of reservoir to supply and installation of generators of booster stations were awarded and are already completed.

“Some of the booster stations and reservoir construction or rehabilitated included those at Isinbode, Aramoko, Ijan, Oke-Ako, Ifaki, Ise, Itawure, Ikogosi Ado, Ogotun and Ilasa. 10 water fetching points were also constructed in each of the 177 wards in the State with a total of 14,160 taps. A total of 261 kilometres of water pipelines were laid while 21 kilometres were rehabilitated.

“New water treatment plant has also been constructed at Ado-Ekiti while those of Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Efon, Ipole-Iloro and Erijiyan are under construction. Work has also started at the N5 billion Ogbese Dam project. The dam, which will have capacity to produce 10 million litres of water per day, will also be used for hydro electricity generation and irrigation.

“Presently, between 2,000 and 9,000 litres of water is being sold to tankers at 22 kobo per litre while 20 litre keg cost N5. A flat rate of N50 per room and N500 per flat is also being charged. When the concession begins, one litre of water will be sold to consumers at 15 kobo per litre while it will while the government will buy from the concessionaires at 7.5 kobo per litre.