Enugu: The Enugu State All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Governorship candidate, Okeifufe Frank Nweke Jr, has introduced a new dimension to the ongoing debate among Governorship candidates in the state on how to solve the perennial problem of water in Enugu, the Coal City State.
While presenting his manifesto tagged “Reigniting the Coal City” on Saturday in Enugu, the former Minister of Information “rolled up his sleeves” and elaborately explained his new concept of unbundling the Enugu Water Sector into three separate entities, using power point presentation as well as a white board/marker.
According to him, he was laying special emphasis on the water sector because of its over arching importance and effect on other sectors, including health and education.
” Mmiri bụ ndụ (water is life). Although I mentioned water earlier, that is why I’m coming back to it again, as the last point, due to its over arching importance and effect on other sectors, including health and education.
“Often times, our children have to trek long distances in the morning in search of water. By so doing, their education suffer.”
“The Enugu Water Sector will be unbundled into three separate entities to handle production (upstream), transmission (midstream) and distribution (downstream).
“Water Corporation will become a regulator, focusing on regulatory governance.
He explained that apart from the present sources of water at Ajalli and Oji, his idea is that there will be constant expansion and sourcing of other sources of water. Some of them include Iyiogwe at Awhum, Udi LGA, which he explained can be distributed without power using gravity based on its geolocation and would supply water to parts of Enugu East LGA like Trans Ekulu and Abakpa.
Orobo river, Akwuke, according to him would supply water to parts of Enugu South LGA including Gariki and Idaw River Layout.
He equally pledged to ensure the revitalization of the Adada Water Scheme to supply water to Nsukka metropolis and its environs.
The former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG also stated that a major albatross of the Enugu Water Sector in recent years had been corruption and mismanagement of funds.
“At Ajalli, only one out of the four pumps is functional. The other three pumps have been scattered into pieces. In fact, if you get there, you will think you are in Tinker(Industrial Market, Ogbete).
“After spending millions of Naira, they ordered the wrong parts and then proceeded to re-fabricate them there. Of course, it didn’t work. The money has been wasted and the water scarcity continues.
Finally, he charged Ndị Enugu to shun the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and their “vote buying”
“When they (PDP) come with bags of rice and salt, cartons of Indomie noodles, tell them ” Enough is Enough! “. Enugu State is not a commodity to be sold. We must chase out PDP and take back our state!”
