FG, Ogun, NGO target potable water supply to rural communities
By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The federal government in collaboration with Ogun State and a Non-Governmental Organisation, Geometric Nigeria Limited, is working towards putting in place a comprehensive rural water supply and sanitation investment plan, to bridge the gap in the supply of potable water across rural areas in the South West States by 2030.
This was revealed in Abeokuta at a day workshop for selected Sanitation Desk Officers across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State and other stakeholders with the theme: “Establishment of a Comprehensive Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Investment Plan in Nigeria (Zone B).”
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Ogun/Osun River Basin Authority, Otunba Olufemi Odumosun said to achieve the main objective of the plan, accurate data had been collated concerning benefiting rural communities that needed the project, and with the notion to make them take ownership, security and maintenance of the water project, listing benefiting states under the zone B, as Ogun, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Osun, and Oyo.
According to him, “This plan will enable communities in dire need of water supply project to be given more priority against those who do not require the project because we want it to have positive effects on the people and the entire communities.”
Also speaking, a Data Analyst expert from Canada, Mrs. Ronke Owoleso said, “As a stakeholder, efforts are being made to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target on the provision of clean and potable water supply, particularly in rural areas by 2030.”
She urged government at all levels to ensure provision of adequate funds, good implementation of policy documents, and continuous training, to enable the project come to reality.
On his part, one of the programme facilitators from Geometric Nigeria Limited (GNL), Dr. Kunle Oyegbile, stated that the programme was to review and evaluate the implementation policy aimed at providing potable water for the citizens, saying that it would be a template for government to have a workable data for the provision of water to communities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Programme Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASTAN), Mr. Sola Ogunbo, said it was important for the government to make provision of water supply for the citizenry, noting that the state government would leave no stone unturned to harnessing any opportunity towards achieving that.
He said rural areas, including remote communities would not be left behind in the plan, saying the agency had been mandated to provide all communities within its domain with clean and potable water.
