Benue To Spend N300m On Water Project.

Despite the fact that Benue State is blessed with River Benue and its tributaries of Katsina-Ala and Buruku, water scarcity remains a major problem in the agrarian state.
The untold hardship the people and residents of the state are confronted with in their quest for potable water is akin to the condition of a canoe paddler who goes to bed without water to take a bath.

During the raining season, the situation abates as the people easily get water from the rains. To ensure they do not suffer scarcity during the dry season, the people now have reservoirs, shallow wells and tanks where they preserve water.

Despite this effort, the relief is just temporary as by the peak of the dry season, the situation becomes nightmarish. Every community in the state is hit by water scarcity at this time.

The situation creates an opportunity for brisk business for water vendors popularly called ‘Mai Ruwa’.

All the major towns including Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala among others, are bedeviled by the water scarcity problem. But, it’s more worrisome that Makurdi, the state capital situated at the bank of river Benue also experiences water scarcity.

Also, the proximity of Kastina-Ala and Buruku major towns which are located beside the body of water from the tributaries of Rivers Katsina-Ala and Buruku have not in anyway ameliorated the water challenge.

At the moment, residents of the major towns depend largely on ‘Mai Ruwas’ for their water needs, which comes at huge cost.

A 25 litre gallon of water is sold at N50 in Makurdi metropolis and environs.

The situation with water tanker operators is not different. A small tank of water is sold for between N4,000 and N5,000. But the price of the supply is still largely dependent on the location of the buyer. This is in spite of the fact that the water is drawn from the water work established by the state government.

The Benue state Urban Development Board appears helpless as the parastatal is already a shadow of itself, more so that the state government is yet to complete the water establishments that would supply adequate water to the teeming populace.

This development necessitated the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam to award contracts for the construction of the Greater Makurdi Water Works, Otobi Water Works in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala Water Works.

The projects were situated in all the three senatorial zones of the state with target of supplying water to all the constituents.

However, the people have not started enjoying the benefits of the projects because of government’s inability to carry out reticulation scheme through which water can be supplied to various communities.

The immediate past administration had proposed the sum of N1.9b for reticulation and maintenance of the Otukpo and Katsina-Ala water works while it said the state would require N15bn for reticulation of water in Makurdi and its environs.

LEADERSIP Sunday recalls that during one of former president Jonathan’s visits to the state, former Governor Suswam had appealed for financial assistance from the federal government to ensure adequate water supply in the state.

The pursuit of the water reticulation project was ongoing when the change mantra instituted by the APC came onboard and swept the umbrella government of the then ruling PDP away.

On assumption of office, Governor Samuel Ortom assured that his administration would tackle the issue of water scarcity headlong.

He said the abandoned water projects would be revived to serve the basic needs of the generality of the people.

The commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, said that the state government had instituted engineering measures to reticulate water in the state and has paid the sum of N300 million for take off of maintenance and distribution of water to the populace.

According to him, “the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam proposed N1.9 billion for reticulation and maintenance of the Otukpo and Katsina-Ala water works, as well budget of N15billion for reticulation of water in Makurdi but the figures were outrageous and the new administration has reviewed it.”

He insisted that with the payment of the N300m take off grant to the contractors to manage and ensure reticulation, the residents would have water at their door steps soon and that scarcity of the commodity would be totally eradicated.

As it is, almost six months have gone by with the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom, but the water scarcity challenge still lingers on.

It is left to be seen whether the change government would really match its words with sincere actions.

Source Leadership