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By Alex Adeiza.
The people of Central Senatorial District of Kogi State may soon be getting the long-sought respite from incessant water scarcity, as Governor Yahaya Bello has taken the bull by the horn to revive the moribund Okene Waterworks.
Governor Bello who was represented by his Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr. (Dr.) Abubakar Ohere expressed his readiness to begin work when he led a delegation of top government officials to inspect the water facility on Thursday 30th November, 2017.
According to him, since the creation of the state, the water facility has suffered neglect in the hands of political conspirators.
The Okene Waterworks was built in 1933 under the initiative and supervision of the then Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Late Alh Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta.
“No attention was given to this project, except the little one from Federal constituency interventions. This is the first water project in Northern Nigeria. His Excellency has promised that whatever it takes, even if it’s his personal resources, he will bring it back to reality.
“A technical auditing of the water facility was ordered with expectation of the result within a window period of one week for the Governor’s consideration,” he said.
He revealed that the Ministry of Water Resources had completed the feasibility study, and they have a target of six months to get the water running, cutting out all bureaucratic obstacles.
Part of the early interventions promised by the governor include de-silting, replacement of steel pipes, tidying of Idiche storage tank, amongst others which have been settled for during the inspection.
In the delegation were the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barr Abdulsalam Deedat Ozigi; Commissioner for Works and Urban Development, Engr Abdulmumuni Sadiq; Accountant General, Alh Momoh Jibril; Auditor General, Usman Ododo; Deputy Chief of Staff, Alh Isa Omade; Special Adviser on SDGs, Arc. Abdulmumin Okara; the D.G Information and Grassroots Mobilization, Hon. Abdulkarim Abdulmalik; and others.
In a related development, the delegation also inspected the Bank of Agriculture newly built by the Okene Local Government administration.
Commending the strides of the local government administrator, Abdulrazaq Muhammed, the Governor’s Representative promised that the project will be personally commissioned by the Governor.
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