Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has launched a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s urban water infrastructure, beginning with the revitalisation of the long-abandoned Ugboha Water Supply Scheme in Edo Central Senatorial District to address the challenge of water scarcity in the state.
The managing director and chief executive officer of the Edo State Urban Water Corporation, Hon. Uyi Ekhosuehi, revealed that when he assumed office just over two months ago, his first assignment was a needs’ assessment of Ugboha, a community that has been without water for a longtime due to a complete breakdown of the dam and treatment plant, following years of neglect, vandalism and poor implementation.
“What we found was disturbing; the dam was down and the treatment plant had stopped functioning. Worse still, substandard materials were used in the original project, particularly the improper mix of ductile iron and PVC pipes, which caused extensive leakages and system failure,” he said.
He noted that the governor, recognising the urgency, swiftly approved the procurement of durable and appropriate replacement pipes.
“The governor graciously gave the greenlight for new pipes, saying that Ugboha cannot be the host community of such project and still lack water. That prompt decision is what brought us to this stage,” Ekhosuehi said.
He remarked that the new pipes have been delivered and excavation work for their installation is already underway, a visible sign of the administration’s swift response and action-oriented governance.
Hon. Ekhosuehi also disclosed that beyond just restoring supply, the administration is also planning to increase the system’s output capacity. He revealed that the Ugboha River has the potential to produce 30 million litres of water per day, compared to the current output of just 3 million litres, further underscoring the strategic importance of the project.
Speaking on behalf of residents, chairman of Ugboha Water Consumers Association, Elder Abanokha Stephen, commended the administration’s responsiveness and transparency.
“When this project was first executed, we had water briefly. But due to poor-quality pipes, the system failed. We’ve cried out many times. Now, for the first time in years, we are seeing government action,” he said.
Elder Stephen expressed hope that the restored Ugboha water scheme would not only benefit Ugboha town but eventually extend across the larger Esan region, improving access to potable water for thousands of residents.
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