Date Published: 11/20/09

Concession of dams won't increase cost of water in Ekiti -Oni

Segun Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Engr Segun Oni says the leasing out  of dams to private investors will not  lead to an increase in  the  price of  water but  rather  ensure a massive increase in production of  water at a  much lower cost.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre said in a statement made available to journalists that Governor Oni, who gave the assurance at a sensitisation meeting with important stakeholders in the State yesterday, explained that the initiative was a process of shifting production to private  investors for efficiency.

Making use of audio visual slides to explain efforts of his administration to ensure that water gets to all nooks and crannies of the state, Oni stressed the need for the State government to maximally utilize the large volume of surface water available in the State for local consumption and sale to neighbouring States of the federation.

According to the Governor, his administration had in the last 2 years initiated and  completed the Ado-Ekiti Waterworks Expansion programme and  the rehabilitation of  the Egbe Water Scheme,  constructed over 300 kilometers of  water pipeline across the state as well as booster stations and  1million –litre reservoirs in Isinbode , Aramoko, Ijan, Ifaki,Oke-Ako, Ise and Itawure.    

He explained that with the new development in the water sector, the state would be able attain its full potentials of producing 205 million litres  of water per day  which is  2 1/2times more the present approximated demand of the  75milion litre per day.  

Oni disclosed that government would purchase water from the concessionaires at a rate of 7.5 kobo per litre and sell to members of the public at 15 kobo per litre.

The Governor, who noted that Local Government Councils would pay  in bulk for water fetched by members of the public at MDGs fetching points and other public taps in their areas said money generated from consumers would be expended on extension of water pipelines to new areas and consolidation of water projects across the State.

Governor Oni said the leasing of the dams was not of removal of subsidy  or deregulation, but a process of ensuring optimal production at a lower cost adding that members of staff of the State Water Corporation would not be retrenched but would be involved in quality control, distribution of water and the reading of water meters.

The State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Dapo Agbede and the Director General, Bureau of Public Private Partnership, Mrs. Lanke Omojola expressed hope that the concession of the dams will produce effective results.

Speakers at the forum, including the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Chief Joseph Arogundade commended the initiative of the governor and promised that the Labour will support the idea.

They however called on the state government to ensure the speedy   implementation of the programme.