The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to providing adequate potable water supply to residents across the state.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, stated this on Wednesday during the Q3 Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the Ministry of Communications at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Finance, Ilorin.
The Commissioner highlighted the scorecard of the Ministry during the period under review to include: the completed Lafiagi, Zambufu Waterworks, the newly completed and commissioned three power phases at Otte/Budo-Egba Waterworks, while emphasising that the Omu-Aran and Oyun Waterworks rehabilitation is on the top gear and will soon be completed and commissioned to resume water supply to the people of the areas.
Hon. Lade revealed that Oke-Ero Local Government Area had been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by the National Council on Sanitation and Task Group (NSTG), Abuja, earning the state government a commendation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abuja, for a credible job well done.
He explained that the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration has constructed public lavatories for Balogun Alanamu, Eruda and Ajikobi communities, all in Ilorin metropolis, in an effort to end open defecation and stressed that other Local Government Areas are on the pipeline for similar projects.
The Commissioner said that the Kwara State Government is currently hosting General Managers and representatives of sister States of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agencies from North Central Geographical Zone for a meeting to deliberate on critical ways to rid the zone of open defecation.
Hon. Lade also pointed out that the state government has paid N700m counterpart fund for Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, noting that the need assessment has been carried out for the siting of the projects.
The Commissioner further submitted that several powered and hand pump borehole projects are ongoing across the three senatorial districts, while pipe repairs, articulation and extension have been carried out within Ilorin metropolis.
Hon. Lade affirmed that the Ministry, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), has drilled a solar-powered borehole at the Ministry of Livestock and completed the first phase of the renovation of the Kwara State Water Corporation (KWWC) headquarters on Zulu Gambari Road, GRA, Ilorin, saying that the state government is considering alternative power supply to run the Waterworks for more effective service delivery.
