Dr. Felix Nnamani, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Enugu, has reiterated the Enugu State government’s commitment to providing 50 million litres of potable water to the residents. The assurance came during a meeting with the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group in Enugu.
Commissioner Nnamani emphasised the state’s dedication to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2025, aiming to eradicate open defecation and enhance water provision by 2030. He highlighted the improvements in access to potable water in the Enugu metropolis, including the shift from old asbestos pipes to modern ductile pipes for cleaner water delivery.
Anticipating an additional 50 million litres of water from the Oji River, Nnamani outlined pipeline completion and repairs to areas damaged by erosion. He also mentioned the production of 120 million litres of quality water in the Oji River and 9th Mile, along with the construction of a gas-to-power plant as an alternative to the national grid.
The commissioner stressed the importance of bye-laws in partnership with local government chairmen to combat open defecation. He reiterated the Enugu government’s commitment to improving residents’ lives in alignment with global best practices, addressing water supply, sanitation, and electricity challenges.
The visit from the WASH Emergency Working Group aimed to discuss ways for the state government to prioritise access to potable water and sanitation facilities. The team lead, Mr. Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, emphasised the need for states to coordinate and take ownership of their challenges, especially in emergency situations.
UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr. Ebri Ibor, expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the WASH emergency working group in the state. He stressed the need to integrate WASH issues into the Emergency Operations Centre to prioritise preventive measures and avoid disease outbreaks, particularly cholera.
The Senior Special Assistant on WASH to the Governor, Ms. Chika Mbah, shared insights from a statewide survey, revealing disparities in WASH activities among local governments. She announced plans for a stakeholder meeting to address gaps and promote community-led total sanitation activities to combat cholera outbreaks.