By Israel Afolabi
State of Osun House of Assembly has assured the state Water Corporation of its supports to ensure adequate supply of water to the people of the state.
The Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Honourable Kamardeen Akanbi made this commitment on Thursday during the committee’s interaction with the agency at the Assembly Complex, Osogbo.
The parliamentarian who appreciated the state government under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for its investment towards sustainable water supply in the state, said the Water Corporation was invited to know how water is being supplied to the state from various dams..
According to him, “the first priority of good government is to ensure that potable water is made available for its people”.
Noting that the essence of the meeting was to prevent waterborne disease in the state, particularly during the Ileya festive period, he advised the concerned agencies to work on mini-storex in each wards across the state to alleviate problems of water supply.
In his response, the General Manager, Osun Water Corporation, Engr. Olugbenga Owojuyigbe assured that adequate water would flow in all the 13 local government presently being served by the existing water works.
Owojuyigbe who attributed epileptic water supply to the power failure and damage of old pipes across the state said, the rehabilitation is going on at Ede Water Works for regular water supply to its environments.
He also assured that Ede, Oyan, Eko-Ende, Esa-Odo, and Ila water work schemes would continue to function well for Osun people.
Also, the state General Manager, Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA), Alhaji Adiatu Olaposi acknowledged the efforts of the state government in collaboration with UNICEF to put end to inadequate water supply in the state through provision of boreholes in every community across the state.
He disclosed that between June 2016 and July 2017, 214 new hand-pump boreholes have been constructed in all the nooks and crannies of Osun, while 85 boreholes were repaired under village level operation and maintenance.
He also said, 273 hand-pump and 10 force loft hand-pump boreholes have been completed in 189 communities in Odo-Otin and Ayedaade local government and handed over to the communities.
On sanitation, Olaposi revealed that total sanitation has been achieved in 19 communities in Odo-Otin with provision of washing facilities provided in 20 schools in Odo-Otin and Ayedaade local government areas.
According to him, “133 communities were certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the state with collaboration of UNICEF”, just as he urged every house owner in the state to make provision for toilet facilities or latrine to avoid epidemic in the state.
