From Ogbeh’s office, the Governor David Umahi headed for the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he joined his fellow governors, the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders in handing over the affairs of the party to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.
Umahi and other key PDP leaders put politics aside and prayed for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is in the United Kingdom for an ear infection treatment.
The following day, being June 8, the governor led his team that also included the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Uchenna Orji, to the Ministry of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu.
During the meeting with the highly amiable minister and Directors of the ministry, Governor Umahi raised the issue of the Mpu/Ivo water dam, saying he was not sure that proper impact assessment was carried out before the commencement of work on the site.
He told Adamu that farmers in five villages in Ivo lost their agricultural produce to the flood that was caused by a blockade of the dam.
The governor also sought the assistance of the minister in tackling water challenges in the state. He said, “We have water problem in our state. We have mega water projects and a third one is coming i.e the one we are building in Ishiagu to serve the entire Ivo LGA and provide water to our modern rice mill in Oso-Edda in Afikpo South LGA. I want to know how you can assist us in all these?”
At this point, the minister who is an engineer like Governor Umahi, said that a team had already been sent to Ivo to assess the level of damage caused by the flood a view to getting relevant federal agencies like NEMA to assist the victims. He stated that he was sure that they would be a way to control flooding in the area.
The minister, who said he might visit Ebonyi this month, added that the state would definitely benefit from a borehole scheme by the ministry.
He disclosed that the ministry was preparing to renew the national water policy and Water Resources Masterplan to ensure that states got FG’s support of 30 per cent on water projects executed by them.
The minister said, if the policy was passed, “we will be able to assist the states. But be sure that we will put Ebonyi in our water pilot scheme and we can also help you in water reticulation.
Here are the links to all parts of the news:
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 1
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 2
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 3
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 4
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 5
– Governor Umahi’s 3-Day Abuja Economic Shuttle By Emma Anya – Part 6
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