Tunji Wusu –
The Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating water scarcity in the state’s capital city and surrounding towns. He also expressed the hope that the continuous supply of water will prevent the state’s residents from building water storage towers in their homes.
During a Monday courtesy call at the Government House in Enugu, the governor offered the promise while greeting Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI) in audience.
The state’s citizens and inhabitants should turn on their faucets and get clean water, Governor Mbah claimed, adding that in the ensuing 154 days, water will begin to flow in homes in Enugu.
“Considering that the state has many water sources, we believe Enugu shouldn’t be one of the states with water shortages. There is no justification for us not to open our faucets and obtain pure water in the twenty-first century.
“Water will not begin to flow into our homes for another 154 days. We are aware of what we say and are aware of the issues because we have conducted an analysis of the issues.
“Aside from the Enugu metropolis, we are already working with the local government chairmen to ensure that those in Nsukka, other towns, and rural areas have their own water schemes from different sources, can access water in no time, and can get water within a distance of no more than five minutes.
“We are developing a robust system that can provide water continuously throughout the year, not just sometimes. We are working on the Orji River Water Scheme as well, and we are addressing other issues in the downstream. As a result, we believe that eventually people will no longer need to construct water storage towers in their various homes, which is why we aren’t just concentrating on the 9th Mile Water Scheme.
The governor praised the group for their interest in sanitation and hygiene and noted that by supplying water to markets, hospitals, and schools, people would have access to restrooms, which would help put an end to open defecation in the state.
The governor said, “We are pleased that your organization’s role as a watchdog will enable us to do everything we seek to accomplish with regard to water.
The Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI), also known as the WASH Rights Network, is a coalition of 23 civil society organizations in South-East Nigeria. It is a task team member organization of the End Water Poverty Coalition, based in the UK, and a member of the Pan-African Network, Africa Water Justice Network, among other networks.
According to him, the goal of the NEWARI is to increase South East Asia’s access to high-quality water, sanitation, and hygiene services through the use of evidence-based advocacy, efficient monitoring, and accountability systems. This goal is fundamentally linked to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 6, which emphasizes universal access to water and sanitation.
“We are thrilled to learn that you have pledged to provide water to houses in Enugu within your first 180 days in office and to enhance sanitation and hygiene in the state. This is a difficult undertaking, but we believe it can be accomplished with the tremendous political will and capacity you have shown in your short time in office,” he said.
He made the governor aware of the organization’s support for his efforts to put an end to the state’s ongoing water problems and improve the lives of its residents.
