By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services through strategic partnerships, rehabilitation of water facilities and long-term infrastructure development.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, stated this at the end of a two-day Stakeholders’ Validation and Local Investment Plan workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with the state ministry and Teamwork Global Associates in Umuahia.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Nwaomiko Udo-Nwokocha, the commissioner said the state was prioritising safe drinking water as a key driver of public health and sustainable development.
He said the government was shifting from temporary solutions to sustainable infrastructure through the rehabilitation of water schemes, modernisation of distribution networks and strategic partnerships aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to safe drinking water in both urban and rural communities.
Monday urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to strengthen the implementation of the Federal Government’s Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.
The General Manager of the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Uzo Kalu, said the workshop validated findings from a statewide assessment of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities conducted across the state’s 17 local government areas.
Represented by Team Lead of Teamwork Global Associates, Bamidele Igboro, WASH expert Ishaku Ziyok said the validation exercise would ensure the final investment plan accurately reflects conditions in communities and guides effective implementation.
Also speaking, the Mayors of Ohafia and Bende local government areas, Eleanya Kalu and Bassey Uwabunkeonye, expressed confidence that the validated report and stakeholders’ recommendations would complement the efforts of Governor Alex Otti’s administration to improve WASH services across the state.
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is partnering with states to develop Local Investment Plans under the Rural WASH programme to improve access to clean water and sanitation, particularly in underserved communities, and support Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals commitments.
