The General Manager of the Ekiti State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Toba Anise has restated the commitment of the State Government to improving access to potable water across the state this fiscal year.
Mr. Anise gave the assurance during the handover of 58 newly rehabilitated hand pumps to communities in 6 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the hand pumps which were rehabilitated by Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Tulsi Chanrai Foundation are expected to ensure round the clock supply of potable water to the benefiting communities.
The General Manager disclosed that provision of potable water was high on the agenda of the Fayemi administration as a substantial
amount has been voted for the turn-around maintenance of the Ero Dam, in the 2013 budget, adding that other dams in the state would also be made to function at full capacity as part of the overall plan of the State Government to address the problem of acute water shortage being experienced in some parts of the state.
He also disclosed that the state government has already started the process of replacing rust and burst pipes with new ones, adding that work is on – going at repairing water points and boreholes across the state.
The G. M. therefore applauded the efforts of the Federal Government and the Foundation at repairing hand pumps and training of local
populace on the maintenance of the equipment.
Earlier, the Director of Water of the Tulsi – Chanrai Foundation in Nigeria, Mr. Naser Ahmed said the programme which started in July 2011 was aimed at repairing 1,000 hand pumps in eighteen states of the country out of which Ekiti State got 58.
Mr. Ahmed noted that preventive and maintenance kits as well as complete sets of hand pumps installation and maintenance tools were also provided to the benefitting communities.
The Foundation Director said the repair of the hand pumps was done at no cost to the state government while 10 local mechanics were also trained in handling and repair of hand pumps.
Two of the trained mechanics, Mr. Oyebanji Ojo and Chief Ayodele Akinboye appreciated the efforts of the Charity Organisation and noted that they have improved their capacity.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of 6 motorcycles, tools for repairing hand pumps and spare parts to run 2 supply chain
outlets.
The benefitting local government areas are: Ekiti West, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Efon, Ise/Orun, Emure and Ekiti East.
Last modified: January 20, 2013