Residents lament lack of water supply in Ondo

Residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, have lamented over the lack of water supply in the town and other major areas in the state.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the popular Owena Multipurpose Dam, a Federal Government project, which was started during the tenure of ex-Governor Segun Agagu, had been abandoned.

The dam was said to be capable of supplying water to six local government areas in Ondo central senatorial district.

One of our correspondents learnt that a water project by the state, Owena Ondo Water Dam, which used to supply water to some parts of the state had been out of operation due to breakdown of some machines.

A resident of Iro in Akure, Segun Olobe, said, “The last time we had water supplied to our homes in this area was before the military handed over power to the civilians.”

Hannah Oladunmola, a resident of Alagbaka, said, “I can say that nowhere in Akure has water supply from the government. Every building is compelled to dig a well.”

Speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH, Chairman of the Ondo State Water Corporation, Steve Giwa, who admitted that the corporation was struggling to provide water to homes in the state, said until enough money was released to execute water projects in the state, residents would continue to battle with the situation.

“This government is trying its best. But the state has no money to carry out many projects. That is why we are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to release (more) money to the state so that we can execute (some water) projects.

“Most of the equipment are obsolete. They need to be changed. The Owena Ondo Dam has collapsed and we need a lot of money to revive it. The Federal Government is not giving us money and there is no money anywhere. That is the problem,” Giwa said.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has fixed the commencement of the inauguration of its 100 projects for this week.

The projects will be kicked off with the NEPA-Arakale dual carriage road.

According to the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the commissioning will be done by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Akinmade noted that Igbokoda dualisation project, Awosika in Ondo and Ijare mega schools, would follow consecutively.

Speaking on the NEPA-Arakale road, which he said was initiated and completed by the Mimiko-led administration against all odds, Akinmade explained that the road was a single carriageway and had remained so for over nine decades.