Kwara govt hands over Otte-Oja/Budo Egba, Omu-Aran water projects to contractors for rehabilitations
The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, has officially handed over the Otte-Oja/Budo Egba and Omu-Aran Waterworks projects to AEVIN Nigeria Limited and DELKO International Contractors for immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation, respectively.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, made this on Tuesday at Otte-Oja and Omu-Aran when he officially handed over the projects.
According to the commissioner, the state government will drill six industrial solar boreholes for the Otte-Oja/Budo Egba communities and increase the fetching points to enhance access to potable water supply in the area, adding that a standby generator, which will serve as an alternative power supply to the solar energy for constant water supply would be provided.
He emphasised that the facility would be fenced to safeguard it from miscreants who had earlier vandalised the old one provided.
Speaking at Omu-Aran Waterworks, the Commissioner highlighted the work to be carried out at the site, including dredging of the Dam, procurement and installation of lowlift and highlift pumps, reticulation of pipes, construction of additional fetching points, and clearing of the clarifiers, among others.
He advised the communities concerned to support and cooperate with the contractors to deliver quality jobs.
Earlier, the State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Hon. Yunusa Oniboki, gave a detailed history of how the Otte-Oja/Budo Egba communities had suffered and struggled for water in the past.
The Chairman disclosed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has graciously approved the reconstruction of the project to ease water supply challenges in the communities.
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Oniboki appreciated the Governor, the Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources, the Permanent Secretary, other government officials, and all illustrious sons and daughters of the communities for the success recorded in the water project.
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs Christiana Asonibare, however, enjoined the people of Omu-Aran community to engage the services of local vigilantes to safeguard the facility, pending the time the state government will provide a permanent solution.
Responding on behalf of AEVIN Nigeria Limited and DELKO International contractor, Engr. Musa Surajudeen and Alh. Mohammed Salihu Kolawole promised to deliver quality jobs in tandem with the contract specifications.
The duo thanked the state government for allowing them to serve the state in this capacity.
The Chairman of Otte-Oja Descendants Union, Alh. Saka Omowale, the Vice Chairman of the Budo Egba community, Alhaji Akanbi Egba and the Woman Leader, Hajia Saratu Omowumi Yahaya, thanked the state government for the kind gesture and promised to give the contractor the necessary cooperation required to fast-track the completion of the project.
Also speaking on behalf of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, His Royal Majesty, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, the Petu Aran of Omu-Aran, Chief Lawrence Adeboye thanked Gov. AbdulRazaq for responding promptly to the plight of the people at this crucial period of acute water shortage in the town, adding that the community would be grateful if the state government could help provide security for the facility, noting that it will go a long way to curb its vandalisation.
