By: Gloria Essien, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the abandoned rehabilitation of the Obudu Dam Resort Project in Cross River State which cost N1.165 billion.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to resume the immediate rehabilitation of the Obudu Dam project.
It also urged that funds to relevant financial authorities to carry out the project.
The House mandated the Committee on Water Resources (when constituted) is to investigate the contract and why it was abandoned and make recommendations.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the Need to Rehabilitate the Abandoned Obudu Dam Resort Project sponsored by Hon. Peter Akpanke.
The House noted that the Federal Government adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September, 2015 amongst which is SDG 6 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
It also noted that the National Water Resources Master Plan was launched in 2013 by the Federal Government to provide access to portable water by utilizing the dams, which was reviewed and integrated into the SDG implementation plan and formed part of the National Guidelines for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Healthcare facilities meant to improve sanitary conditions and prevent infectious diseases.
The House said it was aware that the Obudu Dam Resort, a multipurpose facility which provides water to over 60,000 people as well serves as a recreational centre was flooded, in 2005.
This, it said, prompted the Cross River State Government to access a facility from the International Development Agency, (IDA) to finance its rehabilitation.
It recalled that on August 14, 2012, the Federal Government awarded a contract worth 1.165 billion Naira to Consolidated Construction Limited, (CCL) for the rehabilitation of the Dam Resort.
The motion reads, “The House also recalls that the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and the Cross River State Water Board Limited, (CRSWBL) contracted to Lilleker Brothers Limited, LBL to construct a water treatment plant, with the second phase being the construction of reticulation channels to benefit neighbouring communities.
“The House is aware that the Dam was expected to facilitate the irrigation of about 100 hectares of agricultural land, boost fisheries and promote tourism in the northern part of the State in line with the Federal Government’s Partnership for the Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, PEW ASH and the World Bank assisted Sustainable Urban-Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH to improve public healthcare services and eradicate poverty in Nigeria to achieve SDG Targets 6.1 and 6.2 in the rural areas, improvement in Urban, Small Towns, and Rural Water Supply in the Country.
“The House is worried that failure of the Federal Government to complete the Obudu Dam Project has contributed to the further dwindling of revenues to the Country, thus threatening the livelihoods of over 60,000 Nigerians who depend on the dam for water, sanitation and hygiene as well as economic purposes.
“The House is also worried that if urgent actions is not taken by the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Dam, an outbreak of another disease is inevitable in Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency; Concerned that the continuous loss of lives occasioned by preventable action has become a norm that must be checked.”
Olusola Akintonde
