Nigeria: Ondo monarch appeals for potable water

By Bisola Adeyemo

The monarch of Iju-Odo Community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Festus Olumoyegun on Thursday, appealed to the governments at all levels to provide potable water in their communities.

The mornach made the appeal on Thursday at the official launch of boreholes project for primary health care centres and public schools at Iju Ondo and Ilu-titun- Osooro Communities.

The monarch, who spoke through Oniogbe of Monogbe, town Chief Omodele Adebayo lamented that the communities fetched their water for drinking and domestic use, from the streams, describing the development as unsafe and unhygienic, particularly for children.

According to the monarch and his neighboring community, unclean and unsafe water can transmit diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.

The boreholes were donated to the communities by a non-governmental organisation, HACEY Health Initiative. The projects were sited at the five primary schools and five primary health care centres in the affected communities.

“The cost of sachet water in this community rises from N10 to N20 and most of our people cannot afford the sachet water at that price. We are always worried about what the situation may lead to but thanks for this one.

“The primary health care centre here and most part of the community has been suffering lack of water but thank God for this intervention because this will pave way for our people to come here and get potable water.

“The government has been doing well but key stakeholders across different sectors should increase investment in water, sanitation and hygiene for women and children especially those in rural and underserved communities as this, I believe this will go a long way in achieving a healthy and productive society.

“No doubt, Iju-Odo has portable water challenge. Most of our people do go to the stream to fetch water, but with this, we can smile a bit and I want to assure this NGO that we will make proper use of this project and I am appealing to all sons and daughters of this community to fast track this kind of projects,” the monarch said.