Delta signs water concessioning pact with private investor

·         A.G. Goldtrust to spend N13billion for Warri-Effurun water project

Hope for the provision of healthy water for the people of Warri-Effurun environs came alive Tuesday in Asaba when the Delta state Government signed a concessioning agreement with a private investor, A.G. Goldtrust Limited for the development of water supply for the areas under a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) arrangement.

SSG, Rt. Hon. Agas in handshake with Mr. George-Amadin, with other
officials of the state government and the investors after signing the
water concessioning pact for Warri-Efurun project.

The agreement will see the investors putting in N13billion into executing the project that will be carried out in two parts, including the project development period of 18 months.

The signing event which was done in the conference hall of the office of the secretary to the State Government, saw the SSG, Chief Ovie Agas, leading the Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Okenmor  Fidelis  Tilije and other government officials signing on behalf of the state government, while Freeman George-Amadin, managing director of A.G. Goldtrust leader his associates in signing for the investors.

Chief Agas said the concessioning of the Warri-Effurun water project exemplifies Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s determination to get the issue of providing good and regular water supply right in the state, pointing out that the scheme actually started when the governor was the commissioner for water resources under the Ibori administration.

Sir Tilije told journalists later that he was very excited and indeed overwhelmed with the signing of the concessioning agreement, being a journey that started 23 years ago. “Today, we have very serious hope that this project that started 23 years ago is finally seeing the light of day,” he said, pointing out that this is the first major concession in Delta State infrastructural building.

Besides, Tilije hinted that the other joy of his project is that Delta state Government will not put in one kobo into the project that the agreement has just been executed. “The private investor will be bringing in N13billion to execute the project,” he said. The project will connect water to no fewer than 15,500 homes in warri-Effurun and environs, and the water will be sold at a rate cheaper than a sachet of pure water. “Most importantly, this water is adjudged to be safe for drinking,” Tilije said.

He said concessioning of the water project for which the state government will not spend a dime is preferred because of the funding implication in these austere times. Now that government is not going to be putting money into this project, it will then redirect funds that would have been made available for this to some other very pressing projects,” the commissioner said.  

Mr. George-Amadin, A.G. Goldtrust managing director who said he felt a sense of fulfillment that the agreement has finally been signed assured of his company’s commitment to the project, pointing out that his company is the first in water projects with over two decades’ experience in water business.

He told journalists later that the project will run in two parts, with the project development spanning 18 months. “There is a concession period of 12 years after which the project will revert back to the state government,” George-Amadin said, even as he announced that 80 to 90 percent of workers will be employed in the state covering in particular the immediate environs of the project.