By Abdullahi Lukman
The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr. Eric Odo, has commissioned the revitalised Greater Ukehe Water Scheme along with 17 newly reticulated water pump galleries across communities within the council.
The inauguration, held over the weekend, was attended by the Enugu State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Ben-Collins Ndu, and the Managing Director of EN-RUWASSA, Mrs. Chika Mbah.
The water scheme, originally launched in 1995 but abandoned since 2011 due to pump failure, has now been restored as part of Governor Peter Mbah’s 2022 campaign promise to the Igbo-Etiti East Development Centre.
Odo emphasized that access to clean water is a basic right, not a privilege, and assured that the reticulated galleries were strategically sited to reduce the distance residents travel to fetch water.
“This project is about making life easier for our people,” he said.
He added that the local government is committed to extending functional water systems to every community in the area, with more projects underway.
The project contractor, Dr. Chibuike Iyi, confirmed that quality materials and modern technology were used to ensure the facility’s durability and efficiency.
Commissioner Ndu praised both the state and local governments for executing the long-overdue project and urged residents to protect the facility from vandalism. Mrs. Mbah also called on the benefiting communities to take ownership and ensure sustainability.
Residents, including Mrs. Chioma Eneh and Mr. Linus Nwaeze, expressed gratitude for the restoration of potable water, saying it had resolved long-standing water scarcity issues in Ukehe and surrounding areas.
Seventeen water galleries were inaugurated, including sites at Amauwani, Ekechara Market, and Ugwu Ogbomogu.
