By EDISON Okereke
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to assist the State Government with the sum of N4.3bn.
While N3.3bn of the grant is to enable it rehabilitate the Otamiri Water and the Egbeada Regional Water Schemes respectively, N1bn is for infrastructural development.
The Secretary to the State Government, Engr. Mark Uchendu, made the disclosure last Friday in his office while reacting to a deluge of accusations against the Government in the state recently.
He stated that this was very important as the world was celebrating ‘World Water Day’ then.
The former commissioner for Public Utilities noted that the process had been completed before he took over as secretary.
He said, “That process was completed before I came in here as Secretary to the State Government of Imo State. That project will eventually bring into the coffers of the state the sum of N3.3bn for the rehabilitation of Otamiri Water and Egbeada Reginald Water Schemes.
There is additional N1bn which is for infrastructure which USAID is also bringing.
“Now, by December, they wrote to us they would come to resume operation here in 2020.
“And I can authoritatively inform you that USAID team has resumed operation in Imo State. As I am talking to you we’ve been able to test run the Egbeada Water Scheme. And we’re working very hard now to ensure that Otamiri Water Scheme is rehabilitated. These are the things we said we must do. We must let water run first before they can start the expansion issue. So for us in Government this money will come into this state but not during our administration….”
According to Uchendu “lack of water has been giving us concern that we don’t have public water supply in the state.”
Engr. Uchendu regretted that “because of the Urban Renewal Project, expansion of the roads, most water pipes were destroyed.”
Nigeria Horn
