Governor Mbah: A Water Promise Fulfilled

According to reports, over 1.5 million people in Enugu State do not have access to basic water services. This water scarcity has an undulating effect on health, social life, and the economy of the state. The water crisis also has ripple effects on hygiene, worsening the menace of open defecation and poor hygiene. On the rural communities, and even in parts of the Enugu city, citizens have taken their fates in their own hands by digging wells or resorting to contaminated streams.

In the urban areas, Enugu people have generally resorted to water tankers to cushion the effect of water scarcity. Water tanker owners, Shylocks that they are, having observed how important they are, threw caution to the wind in raising price of water. In fact, in the last one year alone, there has been100 percent increase in water prices, worsening the untold hardships faced by Enugu people in the face of ever-rising general cost of living.

The worst part is that during the dry season, it takes up to a week or two weeks to get the water tankers to come supply even after payment. They are as proud as peacocks due to the principle of the law of demand and supply. Now, with an extensive demand for water and a low number of suppliers, the water vendors are arbitrary and those at the receiving end are those who can’t afford to pay for water supply at even the minimum price.

Consequently, the promise by Governor Peter Mbah, during the campaign, to restore water to Enugu capital homes in 180 days  if elected, though received with serious doubts among the citizenry due to their past experiences of promise and fail, resonated with them nevertheless. But in the midst of the doubts, Mbah still insisted that it was doable and recommitted to this campaign promise even during his swearing-in ceremony where he said:  “In the area of water, Ndi Enugu are aware of our promise to ensure availability of water in our homes in the Enugu metropolis in 180 day's time. We reiterate this promise here. Furthermore, we will waste no time in replicating same feat in Nsukka, Udi and Awgu axis. We are building a resilient system that can supply water every day of the year and not intermittently”

The governor reminded that access to water and sanitation services would positively help his administration in its drive to end Open Defecation by 2025. With the constant availability of water, advocacy for toilet facilities can become not only more fruitful, but also justified in the state.

To the surprise of many, Mbah fulfilled this seemingly unrealistic pledge to restore water to Enugu in 180 days on Saturday, 25th November 2023 when he commissioned the ultramorden Ninth Mile 24/7 Water Scheme, leaving Enugu in pools of joy.

At the commissioning, he said "I cannot help but think back to our campaigns before elections, where it all started. Given our vision and mission for the state, it became evident to us very quickly that the challenge of water supply is fundamental to the achievement of our objective to take our GDP in the state from the current position of $4.4billion to $30billion within the next 4-8 years. It was clear to us that the status of water supply at the time, there had been on reliable water supply in most parts of Enugu State for almost 20 years”.

Globally, people challenge politicians, who make pie in the sky election campaign promises. They make flowery promises to the people deliberately just to deceive voters for their desperate quest for power and authority. They tell voters what they want to hear even if such promises cannot be fulfilled or they have no plans to fulfill them when they get into office. But history has no place for such scoundrels.

But with the promise to end water scarcity in 180 days fulfillled, governor Mbah has indeed shown that he is in a world of his own and a leader to be trusted. Expectedly, this has raised his approval rating, his credibility, legitimacy, and trust by the people.

But the water feat is one but one promise kept, which further show that good governance and keeping promise are in his character. They come natural to him. On assumption of office, he promised to clear the mountainous refuse bequeathed by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga as Commissioner for Environment in 100 days; and he did it. He also promised to host an investment roundtable within 100 days in office; and he did so. He said he would remove the barricades in our streets within 30days of his administration and he did that too. He said he would ramp up revenue by introducing e-payment so that every payment, including the money collected from traders and tricycle operators go straight into government’s account; he did exactly that, raising the state internally generated revenue from N2 billion to N4.5 billion in less than three months. This is to name a few.

But, not doubt, the one that resonates so much to the people of Enugu is his overwhelming commitment to end water scarcity in Enugu within 180 in office, which many naysayers saw as purely a political statement and mission impossible. But he did it in a resounding way, raising water production from 2 million litres once in two weeks to 120 milion lires daily and, importantly, non-stop. To make it none-stop, he supported the public power providers to build over 6MW power substation at the Ninth mILE water Scheme, and equally built a 4.4MW gas-powered plant to ensure that there is no excuse in pumping water to Ndi Enugu 24/7. This has been rightly described as an unprecedented feat by experts.

This shows that Mbah understands what modern leadership is all about. His tireless work ethics and unflinching willingness to take on challenges head-on make him an exceptional leader. Obviously, the Enugu electorate got it right this time. If he could perform such great feat in 180 days, then only heaven can comprehend what Enugu would look like by the time he has completed even his first tenure. Thank God we did not allow them to brainwash us into electing as governor someone, who could not as much as dispose refuse from Enugu Streets as Commissioner for Environment.

Nnamani, a political analyst, writes from Enugu.