Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has promised safe water for consumption of people of the state.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi, made the promise on Thursday in Akure during the celebration of World Water Day.
The theme of 2024 World Water Day is: Water for Peace.
The governor said that the only four per cent of people in the state had access to portable water when the administration came on board in 2017 because majority of the water schemes across the state had become moribund and were no longer functioning.
He stated that the percentage increased to 17.6 in 2020 attributing it to the massive investment in the restoration and expansion of existing urban water infrastructure across the state.
According to him, no fewer than 38 per cent of people of the state now have access to good water for their use.
“ Today, based on water sanitation and hygiene national outcome routine mapping ( WASH NORM) survey by UNICEF, WHO, World Ban and Federal Ministry of Water Resources, we are at above 38 per cent and still moving forward.
“ Over 1,000 boreholes had been rehabilitated in rural communities of the state.
“ Presently, the state urban water sanitation project which is co-financed by the French Development Agency (FDA) and the African Development Bank( AFDB) is working on rehabilitating the Owena Multipurpose Dam to provide water for six local government areas of the state.
“ Through innovative interventions and partnership, we are improving water infrastructure, enhancing sanitation services and empowering communities to take ownership of their water resources,” he stated.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the “ Ômi-Irorun” Water Policy of the government would be extended to schools where students lacked access to portable water and provision of toilets to end open defecation.
The governor also vowed that the government would take action to tackle crisis of those living without access to safe water, saying that concerted efforts at both national and local levels would make it a reality.
Also speaking, Mr Sunday Akinwalere, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, said that the day was to focus on the global water crisis and raise awareness of people without access to safe water.
Akinwalere noted that the day was expected to have been observed since March 22 but the state could not hold it then due to some circumstances beyond its control.
The commissioner said that the Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led administration had constructed scores of boreholes under the Omiirorun Accelerated Water Scheme.
Akinwalere noted that the state had paid over N1 billion as a counterpart fund to rehabilitate the dam by FDB and AFDB.
He said that the governor had directed the ministry to make safe water accessible to the 18 local government areas of the state.
According to him, individuals should join hand with the government to reflect on the complex relationship between water , conflict and cooperation.
“ We have our roles to play because peace is a basic human ambition that calls for constant dedication and work from all and sundry.
“ Every means of ensuring access to portable water , provided by the government should be treasured and not misused,” he stated.
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