A civil society coalition group working to improve WASH access through evidence-based advocacy and sensitization on WASH Rights, otherwise known as 'WASH Rights Network' took a facility tour to inspect the progress of the ongoing 9th Mile Crash Programme Water Supply Scheme handled by FordMarx Nigeria Limited.
Leading the five civil society organisations in attendance, Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke JP. expressively commended governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's administration's tenacious response to water challenges in the state despite setbacks caused by series of vandalisation of component parts of the water facility by hoodlums.
Recalled that Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Ugwuanyi in his keen determination to decisively address water challenges in the state recently awarded contract to FordMarx Nigeria Limited for comprehensive rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme which was abandoned for over thirty years after the administration of Jim Nwobodo, the former Governor of old Anambra State.
The 9th Mile Crash Programme Water Supply Scheme was conceptualized by Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration to boost the volume of portable water being reticulated from the aged water scheme. A project which has a two-year warranty and maintenance by the company, perimeter fencing of 250 plots of land covering the facility, severe gully erosion control of about 15 meters depth, security tower and CCTV Surveillance System.
Representing Enugu State Government during the site tour, the SPA to the executive governor on water resources, Hon. Dubem Onyia, took the team to a reservoir with a measuring tool (meter) positioned to calculate volume of water collected. He explained that water passes through different stages of treatment processes before getting to the consumers. According to him, “the borehole can sustain more than the size of the pump we proposed initially. The borehole can sustain more than 100 horsepower pump. We had expected something about 500 cubic meters per day from a hole, but now we are getting more than double of what we expected.
"We have successfully changed all the pipes except one and that they are making finishing touches to get it fixed. We pump 2000 cubic meters for 8hrs using solar, but with solar and electricity combined, more would be pumped within 22 hours in a day because of the added advantage of having electricity source. This advantage has greatly increased the volume of water that is being pump from what it use to be because they now have to pump morning and night using solar for the day and electricity for the night".
The CEO, FordMarx Nigeria Limited, Engr. Clifford Offor, while narrating the challenges faced by the company which constitutes disruptions in the process sucha as; illegal tapping of the water by the host village and vandalisation of equipments like solar panels and other devices by miscreants despite surveillance system in place, he reassured the WASH Rights Network team that efforts are being made to disconnect the illegal connections and get those involved in the illegal connection of water pipe line to book, promising that Enugu State Government and FordMarx Nigeria Limited are doing everything humanly possible to round up the project in the month of November 2022 and get the project commissioned.
WASH Rights team lead, Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke appreciated the efforts of Governor Ugwuanyi led administration for rehabilitating the 37 years old abandoned water crash project, also thanked the contractor for their doggeness and urge that they hasten the process in order to get it done within the time frame as promised, saying that citizens of Enugu are in high expectations of getting water across the metropolis as water is of great importance. She condemned the vandalisation by hoodlums which she said is a sabotage to the process and trying to slow down the outcome.
"The addition of electricity power source is an added advantage to the volume of water coming out from the boreholes because from our on the spot observation, the solar power drops whenever the sun radiation intensity reduces or goes down thereby reducing gravity of the pumping of the water" she said.
The Executive Directors of Lunchbux Africa, Mr. Kingsley Chinedu, Impactfield Global Youth Initiative, Mr Gideon Okeke, Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation, Mr Daniel Ukwu, and the Town Crier Initiative, Amb. Ogbodo Jude Ogene represented by Eze Joy Ebubechukwu, all participated in the tour. The team leader also represented the Global Society For Anti-Corruption and Amaka Nweke Foundation during the inspection tour.
Country Director
Global Society For Anti-Corruption
The Executive Director
Amaka Nweke Foundation ANF
Founder
Anambra Women General Assembly AWGA
