Imo Govt meets FG Over Public Water Supply.
The State government has expressed its commitment to the provision of public water supply to every household in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku gave the assurance when he received on behalf of the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma a team from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources at the Government House, Owerri.
Prof. Njoku noted that Imo people did not have access to good public water supply for eight years until the assumption of office of the present administration when public water supply was restored to significant parts of the state within thirty days.
The Deputy Governor who described the World Bank water project as a welcome development expressed the state government’s readiness to key into the project through the payment of its own share of counterpart fund in due time, while advising that the state should be involved in the procurement of water facilities.
He expressed displeasure on the abandonment of the Inyishi and Amauzari Dams built over ten years ago which he said could be used as regional water project as well as irrigation system for agriculture and urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to put them into good use.
The leader of the team and the Procurement Officer, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Josephine Musa said the visit was to brief the state government on the ongoing Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project which Imo was one of the thirteen pilot states while some activities have been carried out under the project.
Mrs. Musa disclosed that the World Bank would pay ninety percent of the grant totalling Six Hundred Thousand Dollars while Imo State government would pay ten percent totalling Two Hundred Thousand Dollars for the completion of the project in the state.
The Commissioner for Public Utilities, Barr. Tony Umezuruike said the state was ready to key into the World Bank project and assured that all major cities in the state would in no distant time enjoy good water supply.
The General Manager of Imo State Water and Sewage Corporation, Engr. Emeka Ugoanyanwu and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Lambert Orisakwe were present at the occasion.
