There was jubilation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital following the pipe-borne water supply to the town began after nine years of non-existence of public water in the state.
The residents of Abakaliki woke up early morning to see water rushing in their taps which triggered jubilation and happiness across the major roads and streets.
Many residents due to the scarcity of water occasioned by dry season were seen with many gallons to fetch water which was rushing freely waiting for people to fetch it.
For many years, residents of Ebonyi State had not been enjoying a supply of pipe water from the State Water Board/Cooperation due to the inability of successive administrations to fix the existing water schemes due to negligence leaving the residents to depend on or resort to well water, borehole and sachet water.
Some of the residents who spoke to our reporter expressed happiness and gratitude to Governor Francis Nwifuru who took the bull by the horns to embark on rehabilitation of various water schemes in the state.
Some of the residents namely; Pastor Kingsley Maduakor, Joy Ajah, Cynthia Echiegu, Monday Alegu, and Joseph Nwojiji among others commended Governor Nwifuru for restoring the supply of pipe-borne water in the capital city after many years.
“I have been spending thousands of naira weekly on water due to scarcity of water. With the pumping of public water, we are grateful to the governor because water is life. We have been drinking all manner of water including the ones called pure (Sachet) water before now.
“We appeal to the governor and his team to sustain the pumping of public water to the streets to end scarcity of water, reduce cost of buying sachet water and drinking of bad water in the town” Maduakor pleaded.
The Acting Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr Franklin Chikaodili Ukah who monitored the pumping of the water from the Ezilo water scheme to the water reservoir at Abakaliki said that Governor Nwifuru was determined to provide potable water to the residents of the state.
Ukah who also moved around the streets of Abakaliki to monitor the supply of water to the various residential houses, expressed shock that some individual taps were damaged causing leakages and thereby wasting the water.
The streets the Commissioner visited in the Abakaliki metropolis include; Ezeobodo, lane by Nnorom Street, Goddy Ogbaga Avenue, Emefo, St. Patrick primary school Kpirikiri and Udemezue Street where the residents were shouting praises for the government of Nwifuru for restoring water supply.
He, however, warned landlords and caretakers of residential houses to repair and safeguard their water pipes and taps, stressing that defaulters would be arrested and their houses be sealed for economic sabotage.
He said that the Ezilo water scheme has commenced the supply of water while the largest scheme at Oferekpe has been completed waiting for a test run and full supply of water to Abakaliki.
“We have water schemes in Oferekpe and Ezilo which has been completed while the Ukahu and Ishiagu scheme is nearing completion. When the schemes are completed, water will be reticulated across the state” Ukah assured.
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