Mbah assures Enugu residents of adequate water supply in five months

Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, has assured residents of the state that there will be adequate water supply within five months.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the network of water rights initiative (NEWARI), Mbah said his administration is committed to ending water scarcity in Enugu metropolis and other towns in the state.

He noted that the availability of water would end the construction of water storage towers in homes.

During the electioneering campaigns, Mbah had promised to deliver safe and clean water to every home in the state within 180 days in office.

“We think that Enugu should not be one of the states having water challenges because the state has plenty of water sources,” NAN quoted Mbah as saying.

“We have 154 days left for water to start flowing in our homes. We are mindful of what we say and we know what the problems are because we have done a diagnosis of them.

“Besides the Enugu metropolis, we are already liaising with the local government chairmen to see that those in Nsukka, those in other towns and those in the rural areas have their own water schemes from different sources.

“We can access water in no distant time because we want people to get water from a distance of not more than five minutes and we are building a resilient system that can supply water every day of the year and not intermittently.”

On his part, Temple Oraeki, NEWARI board chairman, said the organisation commonly known as wash rights network, is a coalition of 23 civil society organisations (CSOs) from the south-eastern part Nigeria.

“We are very elated to learn of your commitment to making water available to homes of Enugu people within your first 180 days in office, as well as to improve sanitation and hygiene in the state,” Oraeki said.

“This is a daunting task but we are optimistic that with the strong political will and capacity which you have demonstrated within the few days you have been in office, the task is achievable.”