Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has devoted the 3rd anniversary week to projects commissioning and flag off including the Ariaria and Ubakala Water Schemes as well as the Ecumenical Center in Umuahia.
The rehabilitation of the N1.3 billion Ubakala Water Scheme in Umuahia South LGA and Ariaria in Aba South is financed by USAID through the Mercy Corp.
Flagging-off the two water schemes Governor Alex Otti thanked the Mercy Corps for the assistance extended to Abia State and assured that the projects would also be commissioned the same time.
“I want to thank them for this support and their resilience. N1.3 billion is a lot of money and we cannot take it for granted. We have flagged-off the two projects. So, when we return here again, it will be for commissioning the water schemes.
He described water as critical to life, hence, his government decision to take it as a critical project.
“And that is why this government has taken it as one of her critical projects, to ensure that we have potable water across the State”.
The Governor disclosed that the Aba regional water project has reached 95% completion adding that the flagged-off is an additional boost to the Ariaria regional water.
Governor Otti similarly flagged off the construction of the 1,000 capacity Christian Ecumenical Centre in Umuagu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA in fulfilment of his campaign promise.
Otti: “Like I said earlier, this centre was one of the things we had vowed to do when we came into office. This land where we are standing was acquired in 2009 and has somehow remained fallow waiting for this day”.
He made it clear that the Ecumenical Centre is not going to be funded by the State Government but from his private pause.
“I have already provided the land, I bought that land in 2009, that’s 17 years ago”.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, while appreciating the Governor for his determination to provide safe water for the people, said that the water project aligns with the objectives of the Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme earlier launched by Governor Otti.
Engr. Monday noted that “This is the third time that the flag-off of these projects has been planned. The first time, we had a date, the financier was on their way to this place, and along Anambra, they were kidnapped. As you know, this project was initially financed by USAID through the Mercy Corps.
“The second one was in January last year after His Excellency, the President of the United States of America took over and you know what happened to USAID. All the aids were withdrawn.
“Since then, His Excellency has provided leadership and through the support of Mercy Corps. Last year, we got the private financier who has accepted to finance this project.
The Commissioner said that as the flag-off is done, it goes beyond rehabilitation of water project.
“As we break the grounds of this project, we are not only rehabilitating the water project, but we are restoring the dignity of our people.
“And this is what the government of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti stands for,” Engr. Monday stated.
Earlier, the representative of the country Director, Mr Rabiu Sani, explained that the Mercy Corps is a humanitarian organisation, existing in over 40 countries and part of their interventions has touched lives across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
He noted thus, “We want to improve livelihood and then we also want to ensure that our projects are sustainable.
“This is over 10 years now that we’ve been in the country and I can say that Mercy Corps has touched virtually all the geographical zones in in the country,” he stated.
He said that the scope of the work includes, rehabilitation of the existing boreholes, testing existing pump and rehabilitating some of the pump.
“Your Excellency, let me also add that, it’s not just a water supply rehabilitation. We would be putting in a renewable energy system which is solar and we are looking at, at least 280 panels of this, each with 580 watts.
“So, together these two projects represent a combined investment of at least 1.3 billion Naira courtesy of Mercy Corps in partnership with Abia State government.
“So, our three impacts are very clear. We want to improve public health. We want to reduce dependence on unsafe water. We want to support homes, markets with infrastructures to restore confidence in public delivery.
“We also value community ownership because it’s not just enough to do this project and we go. Part of the things we’ll be doing before the commissioning is to train a community and build a technical team who will now be handling this system. So, this is what we have,” he stated.
While appreciating the Governor and the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities under Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, the Country Director saluted the Governor for his commitment and assured that they would continue to work closely with the State government.
In his speech, the contractor handling the project, Architect Onuka Ukwa said that the Ecumenical Centre is actually an ultra modern building to house over 1,000 worshippers.
He said that it is designed to cater for all Churches in the State, regardless their denomination. While assuring to deliver within 18 months, the architect thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to him.
“So, it’s a multi-purpose, very functional building, and we hope to complete the building within 18 months from now.
“I would thank His Excellency for the trust in us, and we promise that we deliver the project to his very high expectations. Thank you, Your Excellency, Ukwa stated.
Members of the National and State Assembly, SSG, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, members of the clergy led by Bishop Chikezie Elekwa were present at the foundation laying ceremony.
