RSG To Embark On Rural And Urban Water Scheme To Provide Portable Water For The State

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Prof. Nimi Briggs, Odein Ajumogobia and Commissioner for Water Resources Patricia Simon-Hart at the Rivers State water sector Development Conference in Port Harcourt

Improved availability of water supply in the Rivers State would soon be a thing of the past according to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He said so during the inauguration of members of Water Sector Co-ordination Committee of Rivers State Water Sector Development Conference with the theme: “Improving Service Delivery through Better Cooperation”, in Port Harcourt, recently where he spoke on his administration’s current efforts to provide clean, potable water for the people of the state.

Amaechi said his administration has embarked on rural and urban water scheme will provide potable water, while stressing that clean and sustainable water is essential for the well-being of the people.

 “We need to take water to the people, you and I who are in government, we hold this money in trust for the people, we make decisions on behalf of the people and one of the decisions they expect us to make is to give them clean, potable water,” Amaechi said.

He disclosed that he has directed the State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Hon. Patricia Simon-Hart, to put together all water projects in the state and start to make them work.

Patricia had earlier in her address, commended the Governor for his vision in providing water for all in Rivers State.

According to her, the Rivers State Government has resolved to reform the state’s water sector in order to offer sound water governance and deliver efficient service to the people.

“In Rivers State, we have made a decision to reform the water sector to ensure that we provide sound water governance and strengthen the institutions to deliver services effectively.  The most significant progress made in this process which started in 2009 is the formulation of the Rivers State Water Policy document, its subsequent passage by the State Executive Council and the signing of the Water Sector Development bill into law by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the Rivers State; Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,” she said.

Continuing, she said, “Fresh water is essential for all forms of life; it is critical for human health, social security and food security.  It is often quite easily forgotten, how completely we depend on it.  Every day in our daily lives we see the increasing competition in the use of this very important resource – the increasing demand for agricultural, industrial and domestic uses coupled with the challenges of climate change, rapid urbanization and population increase mean we must now work together to protect this resource for the benefit of our people.”

In the keynote address, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, represented by Ononye Beredugo, said the Federal Ministry of Water Resources would support the Rivers State Water Development initiative and provide leadership and direction and coordination for the initiative.

The Water Resources Minister also noted that water is central to national development, stating that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration equally places importance on the country’s water sector. 

“As we all know, water is life and is central to national development as it has important linkages to health, education, agriculture, rural development and indeed the environment.  It has also a direct and rapid impact in poverty reduction in course of industrial production and employment generation. This therefore underscores the high priority the current administration has now accorded the sector.  I wish to assure you of our Ministry’s readiness to encourage those things and provide the much needed leadership, direction, coordination and support for the Rivers State Water Development initiatives”, she said.