The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has officially inaugurated a 70 million litre per day water project in the state capital, Enugu. In his address at the commissioning ceremony, the Governor revealed that his administration had significantly elevated the production capacity of potable water from a sporadic 2 million litres per day to an impressive 120 million litres per day.
The 9th Mile 24/7 Water Scheme, as the project is known, stands as a testament to the Governor’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of restoring water supply to Enugu city within 180 days of assuming office. The cornerstone of this water project lies in the establishment of a 4.4MW gas-powered plant, meticulously constructed by the Governor’s administration to provide uninterrupted power supply to the water scheme, thereby guaranteeing a seamless water supply to the residents of Enugu.
Reflecting on the arduous water challenges previously faced by the people of Enugu, Governor Mbah underscored the critical significance of reliable water availability in line with his administration’s vision to elevate the state’s economy from its current $4.4 billion GDP to an impressive $30 billion within the next four to eight years.
Addressing the audience, Governor Mbah emphasized, “It was evident to us that the state of water supply at the time was deplorable. For almost two decades, reliable water supply had been a rare commodity in most parts of Enugu State. It was unequivocally clear that under such dire circumstances, attracting investors to the state would be a herculean task. Moreover, existing businesses would struggle to expand, thus thwarting the generation of additional jobs and impeding economic growth. These conditions undeniably suffocated businesses and households, leading to unwarranted hardship across the state.”
Furthermore, Governor Mbah expounded on the urgency of addressing this fundamental issue and the subsequent decision to prioritize water provision as a paramount objective in fulfilling his administration’s mandate and social contract with the citizens of Enugu. He elucidated, “We set a target of resolving this challenge within 180 days, not as a means of self-congratulation, but because of the acute urgency of the matter. We were resolute in our determination not to subject the good people of Enugu to undue suffering for even a minute longer than necessary. Additionally, we perceived this as an opportunity to galvanize the citizens of Enugu for the taxing responsibilities ahead and swiftly propel our administration into action.”
Recalling the initial skepticism surrounding the pledge to provide potable water within the stipulated 180-day timeline, Governor Mbah triumphantly declared, “Here we stand, 180 days from that commitment, commissioning this state-of-the-art water scheme with the capacity to deliver 70 million litres of potable water daily to businesses and households in Enugu. And this is merely the inaugural phase. In the coming weeks, we will also launch new pumps in the Oji water scheme, augmenting our capacity to supply an additional 50 million litres of water daily. Consequently, our total daily water supply in Enugu will amount to an impressive 120 million litres, approximately double the urban daily demand of Enugu.”
Furthermore, Governor Mbah assured the residents, “We are currently supplying water to the Enugu municipality at satisfactory pressures, and I categorically affirm that pipe-borne water is here to stay.” While acknowledging challenges in the downstream segment of water supply, he iterated, “Undoubtedly, instances of burst pipes have been observed around the metropolis, which is unsurprising given the age of certain water lines. However, these are merely teething problems that we will undoubtedly overcome in a matter of weeks, thereby reinstating year-round water supply in Enugu.”
The Governor also pledged to intensify efforts to extend pipe-borne water to numerous major residential areas that have witnessed development subsequent to the last major pipe-laying projects in Enugu. He emphasised, “Additionally, the outlying towns surrounding Enugu face varying degrees of water challenges. As we approach the resolution of water issues in Enugu urban areas, our focus must now shift to addressing the water predicaments in towns like Nsukka, Oji, and Udi.” He urged the cooperation of residents in terms of service payment and safeguarding of the water facilities.
Governor Mbah articulated, “Accessible water supply is undoubtedly not without cost. However, I assure you that the cost of this water will be significantly lower than your current expenditure on water tanker supply. We must be prepared to cover the connection fees to the meters, which will be installed in our residences and businesses, and remit a fair monthly rate for the water consumed.”
Emphasizing the communal ownership of the newly established infrastructure, the Governor affirmed, “The infrastructure implemented, from this scheme to the pipelines extending into our residential areas, is the collective property of the citizens of Enugu and must be optimally utilised. It is imperative that the infrastructure be safeguarded from vandalism and theft. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to uphold the responsibility of preserving this infrastructure.”
