The water supply programme of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu's administration received a major boost on Tuesday , as the governor commissioned a water scheme capable of supplying water to the entire people of Ayede Ogbese, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Akeredolu said the scheme was part of the state government’s efforts aimed at meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 by 2030.

The governor, who received loud cheers from a large crowd who turned out to receive him, said his administration embarked on the project following a devastating revelation that the percentage of public water supply in the state was less than four percent.

The water scheme, which is being executed by the Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RUWASSA), the governor said will provide potable water for the people of Ayede Ogbese and its environs.

He said 200 water fetching points are already being constructed across the community as part of the first phase of the scheme.
Akeredolu said his administration would stop at nothing to ensure that the lives of the people improve.

He explained that Ayede Ogbese water scheme is designed to have 5km reticulation and distribution network with a storage tank of 50m capacity that would discharge at full capacity twice a day with 100 public standpipes, 200 fetching points while one fetching point will serve 50 people.

The governor said: “As part of our avowed commitment to improving the wellbeing of our people, our administration embarked upon a two-prong approach to revitalize Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Ondo State with special focus on rural and urban water supply utilizing slightly different strategies.

“We therefore came up with Kamomi Concept which has brought on board the ongoing rehabilitation of all non-functional boreholes.
“A major component of Kamomi which is the expansion of new water facilities to increase water access is what we are commissioning today.”

Akeredolu, however, expressed optimism that the new initiative would eradicate open defecation among other health challenges facing the people.

He added that RUWASSA had been empowered to partner individuals, corporate organisations and donor agencies to promote and support investment in water projects across the state.

The governor said: “Our government will endeavor to put necessary machinery in place to attract development partners and investments leveraging Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement to achieve our target in WASH for the people of Ondo State.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, made passionate appeal to governments at all levels to ensure access to adequate water supply and sanitation to avoid its consequences.

Adamu, who arrived Akure for the commissioning, praised the governor for the initiative, which he said would help in eradicating the problems associated with open defecation.

He explained that the consequences of lack of access to water and sanitation included economic losses, high prevalence of water related diseases, reduced school enrolment and attendance, loss of dignity, increased risks of insecurity and violence against women and children.

"Water is life and has no substitute. However, our country today still has significant challenges of access to adequate Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash).

Also, Chairman of Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju said the scheme is an innovation with new direction and sustainable plan for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.

She added that it will optimally utilize underground water unlike the stand-alone motorized and hand pump boreholes that would serve a lesser population. Adeyanju further explained that the Scheme is to improve, sustain and expand safe water supply to over 3,000 communities in the state.

� Nguher Gabrielle Zaki