By Ogbonna Casmir
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has regretted his administrations’ inability to provide portable water to the residents of the state, attributing it to obsolete and fragile conditions of existing water projects/facilities as Nigerian Army embark on water project.
The governor who expresses grief while inspecting an ongoing water project embarked by the 82 Division of Nigerian Army in Enugu to supply water to its barracks and environs when complete, commended the Army for the initiative.
Ugwuanyi said that his administration’s determination to ensure regular supply of drinking water has been hampered by obsolete and frequent equipment malfunction at major water installations, erosion and other environmental factors.
“It is indeed regrettable that despite the progress that have been made so far, government’s efforts to significantly boost water supply in Enugu State are still being hindered by a number of factors including the fragile conditions of some existing water projects and facilities in the state as well as the unavailability of funds to attend to some of them,” he said.
Explaining that Enugu metropolis has expanded in size and population beyond the scope of the city’s early water supply plan, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that his administration is willing to assist and collaborate with organizations, institutions and investors towards addressing some of these challenges to ensure an improved water supply.
Earlier in his introductory speech, the General Officer Commanding Nigeria Army’s 82 Division, Major General Adamu Abubakar, cited the need to ease the problem of water scarcity in the barracks and its environs as the reason behind the army’s decision to embark on the project and solicited the partnership of Enugu State government in that direction.
