Cross River State - CRSG Expresses Joy to Be Part of the 94m Euro Water and Sanitation Project

[CrossRiverState]

Cross River Government has expressed happiness that the State is part of the 94million Euro Water and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase 11 (WSSSRP 11) in Nigeria.

The State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, stated this in an interview with newsmen at the launch of the WSSSRP 11 and commencement of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) project in the State.

According to Cobham the "programme would address the challenges encountered in the first phase of the project which included delay in the payment of counterpart contributions by some partners in the programme and the lack of sustainability".

"Others were, issues of design concept, project sizes and power supply, running cost, human capacity gaps, financial contributions and similar factors experienced during the last five years.

These, he noted, should be regarded as lessons learnt on subsequent programmes and hoped that the 10th EDF project would address the problems and other related issues towards improving subsequent programmes.

The State Government also commended the European Union (EU) and United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) for selecting Cross River among the states for the project.

"The occasion had accorded us the opportunity to express our resolve to continue to work in close collaboration with our development partners, the EU and UNICEF towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals in 2015".

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Elemi Etowa, said the project would consolidate on the gains of the WSSSRP 1 and address the weaknesses experienced in the programme.

He said that the first phase of the programme was implemented in five Local Government Areas of the State, which includes; Boki, Etung, Obubra, Odukpani and Yakurr.

According to him, the programme included Policy and Institutional reforms, Urban, Small-Towns and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation works.

"This second phase shall consolidate on policy and institutional reforms, as well as establish new water supply and sanitation infrastructure in 10 small towns of two self-selected local government areas (Boki and Yakurr)", he noted.

Others are "Borun/Njua/Okubushuyu, Orimekpang, Okundi, Wula and Katchan in Boki and Agoi Ibami, Ago Ekpo, Ekom Agoi, Okem and Assiga Old Town in Yakurr,'' Etowa said.

The project's Consultant, Mr. Adebayo Ajao, also said that the total project package was 94 million Euros (N1.94 billion) with EDF contributing 80 million Euro (N1.65 billion).

"The six focal States, the participating Local Government Areas and the benefiting communities would contribute 13 million Euro (N269 million), while UNICEF contributes 1 million Euro,'' he added.

In his remarks, Ajao said that the project was being implemented in two phases spanning for two years.

He said that other states participating in the programme included Anambra, Osun, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe.