By Isaiah Eka
The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has urged the State Government to direct the state-owned water company to carry out the rehabilitation of public water facilities and pipeline reticulation across the state.
The house made the call in its resolution during Friday’s plenary session, following a motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by Dr Itorobong Etim, representing Uruan State Constituency.
Etim’s motion was entitled, “A Call for Complete Pipeline Reticulation and Rehabilitation of Water Works in Major Cities of Akwa Ibom State”.
She said that it was high time the government and relevant agencies rose to the responsibility of providing reliable, hygienic and safe water for residents and communities in the state.
She said that Akwa Ibom is blessed with enormous water quantity based on its geographical location.
The lawmaker decried the sufferings that residents had to pass through to get water for their daily needs.
“Many of our citizens, residents and small-scale business owners, who cannot afford to sink boreholes or rent houses with boreholes, wander about in search of water,” Etim said.
“This is as a result of the unavailability of pipe borne water, occasioned by rusty or blocked pipes laid more than 20 years ago,” she said.
She, therefore, prayed the house to draw Gov. Umo Eno’s attention to the need to upgrade public water facilities in the state.
The lawmaker representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Mr Moses Essien, seconded the motion.
Essien said that, in spite of the
State Government’s efforts to establish agencies to ensure the availability of clean water, most of the agencies were not funded.
He appealed to members to rally support towards bringing succour to water agencies in the state and charged them to live up to their responsibilities.
He emphasised the need for Akwa Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency to up its game, especially in maintaining water infrastructure.
Essien blamed the ugly water situation on pipeline vandalism during road construction.
He pleaded with the State Government to work towards the rehabilitation of water supply facilities in the state.
The Speaker, Mr Udeme Otong, directed the Clerk, Nsikakabasi Orok, to communicate the resolution to the governor to direct the relevant agencies and ministry to action.
Otong also mandated the House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities to oversee the implementation of the motion, as it sought to provide reliable, hygienic and safe water supply to residents. NAN
