It was like a carnival in parts of Warri when the Delta Government, for
the first time, had a successful test running of the 25 years old Warri/
Effurun water project to the admiration of the twin cities’ residents.
The State government has been battling to put the water project claimed
to be the tallest and biggest water project in West Africa into functional
state for years without tangible success but at last many residents including
market women and store owners came out in large numbers to see the
commissioning of the project.
Apart from provision of
functional taps at each compound, no fewer than 15, 000 houses in Warri and
Effurun metropolises have been connected and would start enjoying public
drinking water after vicarious wait.
This
means that the cities’ residents and other neighbouring communities would now
for the first time be connected to the public water grid with little or no fee,
without relying on privately sunk borehole for potable drinking water in the
state.
The water
project which started in 1989 was funded by the then Bendel State Government
and the Africa Development Bank (ADB). Following the creation of Delta State in
1991, the Warri/Effurun water project was inherited by A.G Goldtrust Nigeria
Limited and every successive administration from Chief Felix Ibru to that of
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan have earmarked billions of naira for it all without
meaningful result.
During the inspection tour of
the project, residents of the area commended the present administration
especially Goveronor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his dogged determination to see that
public water runs through homes in the city.
A
resident of Giwa-Amu, Chief Jenkins Jevwentoto who spoke for residents of the
area said that they never believed the project would come to reality explaining
that Warri/ Effurun Water Project was just like every other government project
that would come to fruition.
According
to residents, the water project is a landmark achievement for Governor
Uduaghan‘s administration recounting that successive governments have come and
gone without fixing the project in the right direction.
Another resident, Mrs. Tina
Esi, at Frank-Ailemen Street while thanking God for the completion of the
project, pray God to bless the commissioner and Uduaghan, noting that they
can’t wait to savour the water.
Some
other streets visited by the commissioner for the inspection included Airport
Road, Bright Hope/Anajite street, Alegbe street, Apala, Oil Mil road,
Commissioner Road, Effurun/ Sapele, Warri/Sapele, Izakpa, Water Resources road,
Igbodu, Eboh, Essi Layout, Okumagba Avenue, Eyara Road among many others.
Residents
who welcomed the commissioner to their streets appealed to government to ensure
that houses yet to be connected were also connected to enjoy the dividends of
democracy. Engineer Fateru Olufemi, Head of Operation, A.G Goldtrust, who stood
in for the contracting firm assured residents and the State government that
facilities used for project were of high standard and capable of lasting for
several decades.
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