The Enugu State Government has described media reports that it has concessioned water supply in Enugu State to a private firm for a period of 25 years as false and misleading.
The Government position was made known by the State Commissioner for Water Resources Dr. Michael Nwachukwu who said the claim was based on a misrepresentation of facts by some citizens who were reported to have petitioned against the matter.
The Commissioner said that contrary to the report, the State Government had merely executed a concession agreement under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the improvement of Water Supply to Enugu capital city with a private concern, Messrs AG Goldtrust Limited as opposed to handing over the operation and administration of water supply to the whole state as the report had claimed.
He stressed that the company; an internationally recognized consortium of world best companies in the various segments of potable water supply infrastructure value chain, would under the agreement, rehabilitate and reinstate existing water treatment plants at Ajalli, Oji and Iva Valley waterworks.
It would also build and complete five new water treatment plants at Iyioku, Amechi Awkunanaw, Akwuke Alluvial Scheme, Ninth Mile Corner and Ninth Mile Crash program.
The company according to the Commissioner would also lay brand new 950 kilometres of transmission and distribution pipeline network using the best possible quality ductile iron pipes and fittings and at the end of construction, it would produce about 193.7 million litres of water daily to service the entire population of Enugu City.
Dr. Nwachukwu also disclosed that apart from vastly improving water supply to Enugu residents, the concession would also save the state government the over N3 billion Naira it currently spends annually through the award of contracts to improve water supply to the city.
He added that over 1000 jobs jobs would be created and made available to Enugu people under the project while ensuring that the inhabitants of the city have constancy of access to drinkable pipe borne water.
The Commissioner further stressed that the concession would not affect the functions of the State Water Corporation as it would continue to supply water to parts of Enugu State outside the capital city such as Nsukka, Oji River, Agbani, Ninth Mile, Udi and Obolo Afo adding that there would also be no need for the Corporation to lay off staff.
He added that the concession was in line with the advice of the Federal Government and the World Bank to States in the country to involve the private sector in the provision of essential services particularly portable water supply.
The Concessionaire he said, would also assist the Water Corporation through capacity building and enhanced training of its staff adding that the consortium would also provide scholarship in water related studies to higher institutions for selected indigenes of the state.
