Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has reiterate government resolve to
implement policies aimed at providing safe and sustainable water supply in the
State.
The governor stated this in Asaba while flagging off the statewide
testing and analysis exercise of water produced through all sources in the
State.
Governor Okowa |
Governor Okowa, represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon.
Tam Brisibe, revealed that 60 percent of Deltans depended on borehole as their
source of water, for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses and expressed
worry over the safety of the water.
He said that the practice of citing boreholes close to septic tanks,
house graves and petroleum storage tanks had further compounded issues saying
that there had been serious cases of typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, kidney
failure, infertility, cancers and neurological disorders.
The governor said the water testing and analysis exercise would determine
the status of the water quality and also provide essential data for water
resources management in the State, calling on residents to cooperate with the
Ministry of Water Resources Development to ensure the success of the programme.
The Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije,
said that the programme was in tandem with the Delta State Urban Water Board
Law, promulgated in the 2000, explaining that it empowered government to among
other duties, license the construction of all water production sources
including private boreholes, collect water rates and renew annual licenses for
all existing once.
He said that based on water experts recommendation, boreholes should be
serviced at least once every year and announced plans by government to
subsidized the testing and analysis exercise for residents of the State.
According to Sir Tilije, private borehole owners would pay N5,000 while
commercial and industrial operators would be charged N20,000 and filling
stations N50,000, saying that the charges would cover a one year period.
The Chief Executive Officer of Emani Global Network Limited and Principal
Consultant of the programme, Mr. Emmanuel Osiegbu, said Delta was the first
among other states in the Country to embark of the programme, stating that it
would be effective in combating health risks associated with the consumption of
unsafe water.
Some participants, Mr. Eddy Ugbome and Mr. Salami Kingsley, commended the
programme, saying it was a good gesture by government to subsidize the rate,
saying that it would afford them the opportunity to patronize the testing and
analysis services.
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