The Governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with a quoted South African firm, EOH Industrial Technologies on behalf of Anambra state government for the rehabilitation and resuscitation of the Onitsha Water Scheme.
This significant move by the state government was in line with the administration of Gov Obiano's vision to provide adequate potable water for the people of the state.
The MoU entails an investment size of about $44 million, and was to be done in 3 phases including revitalization and expansion of the Onitsha Water Scheme. Other areas include to conduct a feasibility study, inventory audit and calibration, reactivating the intake facility at the Nkpor water treatment plant and the Nkissi treatment plant, rehabilitating the mains, pipelines, pumps, valves, reservoirs, boreholes and the reticulated tributaries to the households in all areas of Onitsha metropolis and environs.
Among other things, the investors would complete the infrastructure and metering development and agree on concessional terms that would be determined based on the amount of investment made and rates charged.
In his address before signing the MoU, Gov Obiano said the project is very strategic as Onitsha being one of the most populous cities of the world, requires some modernization in its infrastructure and other basic amenities.
He ascertained that the MoU was coming on the heels of his administration's efforts at revamping 376 water schemes across the 3 senatorial districts in the State built by the previous administration in partnership with the UNESCO but which are not working presently, assuring that they would all be up and running in the next four months.
The governor urged the investors to immediately hit the ground running to ensure that the project is completed on schedule so as to avail residents of Onitsha and its environs, potable water.
On his part ,the Chairman of ANSIPPA and traditional ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Enweze said during construction and upon completion, the project has a lot of benefits for the state which include provision of potable water to the people, prevention of water-borne diseases, creation of 600 direct and 3000 indirect jobs as well as increased revenue for the state.
The Managing Director of the investing company, Mr Mokosi Mokosi acknowledged that the partnership presents them with a viable opportunity to work closely with the State towards achieving the goal of addressing the water challenges of people of Onitsha and its environs.
A Divisional Director of the investing company, Mr Glen Benson assured they would deploy every resources necessary to achieve successful implementation of the MoU.
The Commissioner for Power and Domestic Water Development, Mr Obi Nwankwo thanked the governor for making it possible for investors to troop into the state by ensuring security, noting that over one million households in the Onitsha Zone was expected to be provided with potable water under the project.
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