Ebonyi govt. blames delay in water supply on vandalism 

….Gives ultimatum of Friday to reticulate water in Abakaliki 

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

Promises Steady Water Flow, Cracks Down on Vandals

By our reporter 

Ebonyi State government on Tuesday blamed the delay in water supply in the state on the activities of vandals.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Chinedu Nkah, acknowledged the disruption in public water supply affecting parts of the state.

He assured the residents of Abakaliki that there will be reticulation of water in all parts of the state on Friday.

Nkah emphasized the committed efforts of the state governor Francis Nwifuru to ensure that the people enjoy constant water supply.

He added that the state government has ensured the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure damaged by vandals.

The Commissioner, Nkah made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.

He expressed concern on the sufferings witnessed by the residents of the state duo to the delay in the supply of water, but gave ultimatum of coming Friday to reticulate water.

Nkah attributed the delay in water supply on technical challenges and the vandalisation of facilities at the Ezillo Water Scheme, one of the state’s major water supply sources.

He stated further that the government had intensified efforts to restore water services, adding that engineers were currently repairing damaged electrical installations while essential water treatment materials were expected to arrive within days. 

The commissioner, Nkah expressed confidence that water production would restart before the end of the week.

According to the commissioner, the activities of vandals had significantly undermined government efforts in the sector, disclosed that the alleged mastermind behind the theft of key infrastructure had been arrested and was facing prosecution, while security agencies were pursuing other suspects believed to have fled.

He stressed that despite the temporary setback, the state government had invested heavily in expanding and rehabilitating water infrastructure across Ebonyi. 

Nkah noted that much of the investment remains unnoticed because water facilities are largely underground, unlike roads, buildings and other visible projects.

The commissioner listed the state’s major water schemes as Ezilo, Oferekpe, Old Abakaliki, Ishiagu and Akaeze, adding that substantial progress had been recorded in their rehabilitation. 

He said the Ezilo Water Scheme had been fully restored, while the Oferekpe Water Scheme was more than 95 per cent completed. Test-running.

He added, had already commenced at the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme, with final pipeline connections nearing completion.

Assuring residents of improved service delivery, Nkah stated that water production from the Ezilo scheme would begin this week and remain stable due to extensive upgrades carried out by the ministry. 

He urged households in serviced areas to connect to the public water network and benefit from the enhanced distribution system.

The commissioner further disclosed that new consumers would pay a connection fee of ₦5,500, after which ministry officials would assess the materials required for installation. 

He described the process as affordable and encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunity.

To safeguard water facilities from further attacks, Nkah said the ministry was deploying surveillance cameras at strategic locations and strengthening partnerships with host communities and security agencies. 

He commended local residents for supporting efforts to identify and apprehend those involved in vandalism.

Beyond urban water projects, the commissioner said the state government was addressing rural water challenges through the construction of manual and motorised boreholes across communities. 

According to him, water-related projects now constitute a major component of constituency development initiatives throughout the state.

Reacting to criticisms from opposition groups over the water shortage, Nkah maintained that the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru had recorded significant achievements in the water sector despite recent challenges. 

He argued that the government had also made substantial investments in road infrastructure, education, housing and other key sectors, insisting that ongoing projects would ultimately vindicate the administration’s development agenda.