BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 09, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated N5.9billion Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa state, projected to benefit about 130,000 people.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, while inaugurating the project, explained that 13 communities, including Otuoke, would benefit from the project.
Otuoke is the hometown of the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, who was criticised for failing to provide potable water to the town and neighbouring communities despite being in power, either as deputy governor, governor, vice president or president, for 16 years.
Adamu, who expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to complete all abandoned water projects to improve livelihood, stated that adequate water supply for human and livestock production was a crucial aspect of social and economic development.
He disclosed that the recently launched roadmap on water resources underscores the need for short and long term strategies for effective and efficient delivery of water to the people.
According to the minister, “The project we are inaugurating today is among the high priority projects for water supply.
“This project commissioning, therefore, further demonstrates that the Buhari administration is committed to completing all viable projects that have positive impact on the lives of our people without any political sentiments.”
He called on the host communities to take ownership of the water project by maintaining it for improvement of livelihood and reducing water borne diseases.
In his remark, the Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Serena Dokubo, commended the Federal Government for the project, saying such project was needed in other communities.
He stated that the state would continue to embark on projects that would impact on the lives of the people.
Also speaking at the occasion, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa East, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, noted that lives were saved every time a water project was inaugurated.
“A lot of children die from consumption of unclean water, a lot fall sick, you have to spend more to take them to the hospital to get cured,” he stated.
