EKITI COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION OF 31 BOREHOLES, WASH FACILITIES, OTHERS

By Yetunde Oyerinde

Ekiti State Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program has commenced physical operations in nine Local Government Areas in the State as contractors moved to sites for the construction of 31 boreholes and rehabilitation of 21 others, construction of WASH facilities in 9 schools and 3 Primary Health Care Centers.

The State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko who made this known during a monitoring tour of the projects, explained that SURWASH is a World Bank assisted program aimed at improving Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Services in the State with the target of giving about 672,830 people unfettered access of water supply.

Prof Aluko said that the SURWASH program is also expected to make 55 Communities, Open Defecation Free (ODF) as well as provide 30,884 households, 221 Schools and Health Care Facilities access to improved functional Sanitation and hand washing facilities by the end of the program in 2027.

Aluko charged contractors handling the projects to ensure compliance with the job specifications, stressing the zero tolerance of the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji administration to shoddy jobs.

He also advised benefiting communities to support efforts at making life more meaningful for them, stressing the need to take ownership of the facilities for proper sustainability.

According to him, benefiting communities must have representatives that would ensure proper monitoring of the projects, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders to work towards the success of the projects particularly in view of the “Program for Result” (P for R) feature, as reimbursement is premised on success and impact of the projects.

In his remarks, one of the Community leaders of Ipole Iloro, Mr. Akinola Oladapo Isaac expressed appreciation to the Governor Biodun Oyebanji for efforts to improve the lots of the people, noting that water had been a serious issue and a cause for concern in that area for years especially at the Basic Health Care Center.