We spent N2bn to improve access to water – Gov Akeredolu

By Bisola Adeyemo

At the 10th National Conference on Water, Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said over N2 billion had been spent to improve access to water in the state within the last three years.

The program was held on Tuesday in Benin city with the theme: “Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management.”

The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, said at 4 percent access to water at inception, the state had moved to over 37 percent.

He noted that the feat was achieved through KAMOMI AKETI Accelerated Water Scheme for small towns – reticulated 5km, 100 fetching taps and 100 steel tanks, the KAMOMI AKETI Rural Water Scheme and the KAMOMI Urban Water Scheme – rehabilitation of small dams.

“The challenges in water, agriculture and health sectors are formidable but they can be surmounted.

“It is my hope that the resolutions that will be reached at the end of this deliberation will be useful towards meeting the challenges inherent in the water supply chain across the country,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Salisbury Ahmed, Managing Director of Benin Owina River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), expressed optimism that the conference would address some salient issues that have dogged the sustainable management of water resources.

“At BORBDA, we have over the years expanded our services to our communities through our water supply schemes.

“We have successfully conceived and implemented a number of small towns and rural water schemes through our borehole schemes, powered by generators and solar power sources.

“We are undertaking the rehabilitating of urban water supply schemes in Ewohimi, Edo; Efon in Ekiti and Auchi in Edo.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three days conference was declared open by Governor Godwin Obaseki.