water scheme
Ebonyi State has five (5) water schemes. They are, Ezillo Water Treatment Plant, Oferekpe Water Scheme, Old Abakaliki, Ukawu, and Ishiagu Water Schemes. For clarification purposes, the Old Abakaliki scheme is the low lift water facility at Onuebonyi river, via CAS gate, which supplies water to the hilltop and Iboko reservoirs.
The Ezillo Water Plant covers Ishielu and Ohaukwu Local Government Areas, some parts of Ezza North and Abakaliki Local Government Areas. Oferekpe covers Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government Areas, and some parts of Abakaliki and Izzi Local Government Areas. Ivo takes care of all the parts of Ivo Local Government Area. The Old Abakaliki scheme covers some parts of Izzi and Abakaliki Local Government Areas, while the Ukawu Water Scheme is designed to serve all Local Government Areas in the South, except Ivo Local Government Area.
Ezillo Water Treatment Plant
On assumption of office, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru declared a state of emergency on water supply and reticulation. He started with Ezillo Water Scheme and it has been completely revitalized. The State Ministry of Water Resources has fixed the infrastructure from Ezillo to Umuoghara where the 40,000 cubic meter reservoir is. The last time the reservoir was filled was in 2014. Currently, it is being fenced. But since the completion of work at the scheme, the reservoir is always filled up and from there, water is circulated into Abakaliki and other areas where the scheme serves.
One of the challenges encountered in getting the Ezillo Water Scheme to function and reticulate water into Abakaliki town was the issue of incessant broken pipes in many areas of the town. Given that for donkey years, water supply was abandoned, some residents built on waterways and pipes, while others had pipes destroyed. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, through the State Ministry of Water Resources, has continued to put these pipes to ensure there are no leakages. Quality water supply is on course in Abakaliki and the Ministry is always one call away to fix any identified broken pipes within the State.
Oferekpe Water Scheme
The automated water treatment plant in Oferekpe has a production capacity of 100,000m3 per day. It is the largest water scheme East of Niger, built by the administration of His Excellency, Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi. As at then, it cost the State a whooping N7.6bn.
Since then, it has been left to gradual but steady decrepitude, till Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru gave approval for its reactivation during the State Executive Council Meeting of Wednesday, July 3, 2024. He released funds and appointed Prince John Nwamgbo (SA Mining Development) to Chair the committee, set up for the reactivation of the plant.
They evaluated the plant and discovered some parts to be a good shape, while others were not, especially the water pipeline. Particularly, they traced the pipeline from Oferekpe to Abakaliki and assessed the extent of the equipment needed to bring it back to life and vandalized items.
Currently, intensive work is ongoing there at the plant. The issues with the scheme included; the infrastructure which includes fencing, pipeline, power transmission and the low lift. Procurement of the vandalized items for the machines and the pipelines have been made and the machines at the plant are now working and ready to pump. In terms of power, the staff of EEDC are currently handling the transformer issues to ascertain the reason(s) for the outage. Fencing will be done when the entire work has been completed.
However, the major challenge remains the massive pipeline from Abakaliki through Ikwo to Oferekpe. The water infrastructure experienced a series of vandalizations. Valves and other equipment needed have all been procured and the engineering team is currently fixing the line from Abakaliki back to Oferekpe.
Old Abakaliki Water Scheme
This was the second point of call in the sector for Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. You may wish to recall that late night on October 4, 2023, the Governor went on an inspection tour of the moribund low lift facility at Ebonyi River. This low-lift facility supplies raw water to juju hill (high lift at the hilltop). The road leading to the facility was tr and bushy. It has now been completed in solid concrete.
Currently, constructions of a pump house, generator house, and security house are ongoing at the facility, courtesy of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. The contract includes the laying of water pipe from the low-lift to the high lift at the juju hill. After the required processes of purification, water is sent from the high lift to the massive Iboko reservoir.
Additionally, the Governor is putting up massive work at the Iboko Water Reservoir. There is an ongoing construction of a 500m3 circular tank. Fencing work is ongoing, whereas the pump and gatehouses are as well under construction there. This reservoir covers Nwezenyi, Sharon, Iboko, and all surrounding villages.
Ishiagu Water Scheme
The Ishiagu water project is coming on nicely and in good quality. An integral part of the high lift – the filter bed, is almost completed. This is from where water is pumped after the necessary purification stages. The work includes a 1000 cubic meter reservoir tank at the headquarters of Ivo Local Government Area. The fencing is almost completed as well. This project is a priority for the people of Ivo Local Government Area. The Governor released the sum of N420m for the construction of the table engineering work part of the project.
Only Ukawu Water Scheme is yet to receive attention, but soon, it will be looked into.
In Wrapping Up…
In his People’s Charter of Needs Manifesto, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru noted that his administration will be committed to increasing the provision and access to quality water supply in Ebonyi State. In a little over one year in office, the Governor is achieving this through the reactivation of existing water schemes, reticulation of water to rural and urban areas and provision of regular water supply. These are all contained in his promises to the Ebonyi people.
Long may it continue.
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© Leo Ekene Oketa
