Daily Independent (Lagos)
Segue Adeleye
11 November 2008
Abeokuta — It has been disclosed that Nigerians' access to portable water has fallen way below Africa's average.
The Central and West Africa Sector Manager of the World Bank, Eustache Ouayoro, revealed this while on courtesy visit to Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, on Monday.
Ouayoro said compared to the African average of 58 per cent access, Nigeria's access was about 47 per cent.
He advised the state government that the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the state could become a mirage, if the situation is not corrected.
The World Bank chief also canvassed the fast tracking of the various projects being put in place in the state, to shore up access to water.
Meanwhile, Daniel has pleaded with the World Bank to assist the state in its new water schemes estimated to cost about $184 million.
He told the delegation of the World Bank that pressure points at Mowe/Ibafo, Ota and Abeokuta, among others, would require about N20 billion to finance expansion of portable water to the areas.
Daniel said the intervention of the World Bank was necessary to arrest "cost overruns brought about by inflation and logistics." General Manager of the State Water Corporation, Cecilia Olajide, said the expansion being undertaken in the state would ensure uninterrupted water supply till year 2025, just as Daniel assured that Independent Power Plant (IPPs) are being put in place to service the schemes as well as adjunct communities.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Daily Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
