Breaking the water jinx in Osun

[SunNews]

By Robert Orekoya

Somewhere in Edo State, there was an overhead water tank that had been in existence for more than 30 years. But until recently the people of the community never got water from it because governments that came and went during the period felt that there were better things to do with money budgeted for social services including the provision of potable water. So, the general perception was that like electricity, it was impossible to enjoy the provision of public water.

It was worse with the Ede Water Works in the state of Osun. Built about 27 years ago, it was meant to serve 12 local government made up of 160 towns and villages. The plant is expected to meet the needs of 70% of the entire population of Osun. Since water is the soul of life, existence and nature, the expectation was that government would give maximum attention to anything that had to do with the supply of water.

But alas, over the years the Ede Water Works lost its shine and glory, notably under the past administration. The consequences were disastrous.

Water borne diseases were on the increase. Health centres were recording severe cases of diarrhea, malnutrition, typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, food poisoning and other acute illnesses. Neither the public hospitals nor the private clinics could cope with the avalanche of those reporting sick. In most cases, the citizens could not afford the medical bills because of poverty. So, they resorted to self medication and traditional therapy.

This health situation took a heavy toll on the polity. It reduced economic growth and created a weak and dispirited people left to fend for themselves by hook or by crook. All these threatened to shorten life expectancy which, in any case, was short in the first place.

It was getting close to a plunge into the Dark Ages of the 11th century in Europe when the plague stalked most of the continent and planted death in almost every home. Under such circumstances, a government no matter how good and visionary it was would be wasting time planning the most laudable programme of development. How would you galvanize a sickly populace to move at your own speed? That was the tragedy unleashed on Osun state before Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola became the Governor of the state in 2010.

Mrs. Tawa Williams, the governor's Special Adviser on Water Resources says it is the reason the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government swiftly moved to revamp the Ede Water Works. At a news conference, she announced a radical and unprecedented move by the government to overhaul the project and revive the people's health through the supply of potable water.

Logically, in doing so, the government is also building a strong economy to be driven by savings hitherto spent on therapeutic medicare.

Engineer Williams says that with the coming of the Aregbesola administration, things started to look up again at Ede Water Works. A social revolution is in the offing!

The present government in the state of Osun is starting out from a very low base. When the government came into office, six major water works and 45 micro water works were operating below capacity in the state. The major water works which were designed for a combined capacity of 226,000 liters of water per day were producing only 23.7 percent liters per day, while the Micro water works with combined capacity of 13,400 per day, were producing only 18.6 per cent of their capacity. This situation is drastically changing.

The Aregbesola administration clearly had its work cut -out. Government has had to redress the balance from two fronts, putting in place facilities that will bridge the gap between demand and actual productions, as well as putting in place the institutional mechanism that will ensure the sustainability of the facilities that will fulfil this objective.

In order to ensure sustainability and continuity, the government is ensuring that personnel are well-equipped and trained for the maintenance of the facilities upon completion, while counterpart staff would be attached to each of the projects. Every avenue will be considered in moving things forward. Opportunities available will include twinning arrangement with experienced international water utility organizations, as well as to explore the possibility of Private Public Partnerships.

Sustainability is of course vital which is why a pricing and payments system is strategic to the water access- for- all strategy. In view of the level of investments made by government, citizens are expected to partner with the authorities in paying modest water rates to maintain the robust water initiatives: If the standard of the re-reinvigorated water policy is to be maintained, everyone, the governed and the government, must be willing and ready to play their parts very well. As a first measure, the state government is embarking on Consumers' enumeration, after which a "willingness to pay study " will be conducted. Even as the rehabilitation of this water works is progressing, government is already supplying water through tankers to homes to ameliorate the pains of the citizens.

It can be seen from all these that the Aregbesola administration is actually walking – the – talk. Noteworthy is the fact that the N 417 contract for the emergency work on Ede Water Works was awarded at the inaugural executive Council meeting, held at the executive council chamber of the Governor's Office, just a few hours after the new commissioners were sworn in.

The strategy for water resources is a key component of Ogbeni Aregbesola's 6 point cardinal agenda for the re- birth of the state of Osun. Armed with this is a vigorous can- do technocratic team that has been at the fore-front of implementation. In this vital area, the Aregbesola administration is certainly meeting the demanding target it has set for itself. Happily, the effects on the general well-being of the people are already being felt.

The Aregbesola administration  is unrelenting in its altrustic desire of successfully conquering the perennial challenge of potable water inadequacies to the glory of God and the well-being of the good people of the State of Osun.

The government is breaking the jinx of the poor governance characterized by the failure of the previous administration to provide the people with such basic needs as potable water, roads, electricity, schools, and respectable standard of living.

Orekoya writes from Ibadan,

 

Via: Sun News Online

[Folami David]

Water has no enemy so it is a friend to everyone. We all love to use it for our numerous needs so it's very important. I agree with this...