Joy was the mood of Onitsha town Friday when, after 13 years of dry taps in the town, water is set to run again with the payment of 1.8 Billion Naira to a South African Water company, PC Africa in a brief ceremony, where Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Governor’s Lodge, Onitsha, after inspection tour of the major facility of Onitsha Water Scheme at Nkisi.
During a ceremony witnessed by the European Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. David MacRae and  the  traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Alfred Achebe,  who commended Obi for the restoration of Onitsha , Gov. Obi said that the choice of a foreign company was for a thorough job. According to him,the company had done work of such magnitude in different parts of the world.
Obi, who said he decided to make full payment in order not to entertain excuses for non-performance or delays, apologized to the people of the town for the late intervention, saying it was because things did not work out according to plans earlier that caused the resuscitation of the scheme.
Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Water Resources and Public Utilities, Dr. Emeka Nwankwu lamented that Onitsha, with a population of 4 Million is having potable water problem. He said that by 2006, when the Federal Government rehabilitated some water schemes in the country,Onitsha did not benefit because the Government at that time was fighting the Federal Government.
He said that when Obi became the Governor, he tried and was able to get the Federal Government to include it, but that the company handling it, Funtai, in spite of receiving bridging loan from the State Government to the tune of hundreds of millions of Naira was not serious or technically deficient.
He recalled all other efforts to resuscitate the scheme through partnership which failed and that as the last resort, the Government decided to do it directly with the full payment of 1.8 Billion Naira that would take care of the first phase, involving restoration of the collapsed facilities. He said that about 10 Billion Naira would be required in the long run for expansion of the facilities to serve the entire Onitsha and environs.
Speaking on behalf of  PC Africa, its Managing Director, Glenn Burton-Durham said that with the payment and co-operation of the people, the company would deliver within time.
On related development, Governor Peter Obi said the partnership with the European Union had enhanced Anambra State’s drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  Governor Obi was speaking when he accompanied the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. David Macrae on interactive session with water consumers at Umuanuko Nnewi Water Supply Scheme.
Governor Obi said the collaboration was helping the State to fill budgetary gaps because of its lean resources.  He noted that water and sanitation being critical components of the MDGs have received accelerated development with the support of the EU. The Governor said the provision of water had restored smiles on the faces of the people and assured that more projects would be executed in the area.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/onitsha-water-supply-comes-alive-as-eu-envoy-visits/

GOD BLESS YOU OKWUTE NDI IGBO

I think he got me on this one for the second time.but seriously,obi bleeped up a lot in d past that got me rule him off.had it been he was this functioning b4,this past election wld have been a landslide for him.all d same,kudos.

@levelszik:
I think he got me on this one for the second time.but seriously,obi bleeped up a lot in d past that got me rule him off.had it been he was this functioning b4,this past election wld have been a landslide for him.all d same,kudos.

ABAGWORO IS THAT YOU

Whether haters lik it or not Mr Peter Obi is d best thing dat has evr hapened in d history of anambra state. If it were last som fools will say he is campaignin but aftr d election he has gone bck to work. Am so hapi APGA won......God has really saved ndi Anambra from Yoruba exploitatn....to hell wit all deportin agents nd their allies....they wl nevr rule us till thy kingdom com

FRONT PAGE PLEASE

Too Long.