Rivers State Government has expressed sadness over the vandalisation of the state-owned water facility at Alesa in Eleme Local Government Area.
The integrated water facility has been undergoing rehabilitation by the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), as part of its implementation of recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja made this known during a facility tour of the project.
He was accompanied on the tour by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Miabiye Kalio; General Manager, Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Chief Ibibia Walter; Officer-in-Charge of Project Coordination Office, HYPREP, Prof. Phillip Shekwolo; General Manager, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, (RUWASSA), Mr Napoleon Adah; General Manager, Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA), Mr Ephraim Nwankwo; and the representative of European Union, Mr Bayo Oguntonave.
Gogo-Jaja said it was the responsibility of the host community to protect government facilities in their domain, and also give security to those working in the sites.
The commissioner assured constructors handling the project that the government would carry out investigation into the vandalisation of the water facility, and invited the paramount ruler of Alesa, Eleme, to a meeting in his office in order to forestall a reoccurrence.
Gogo-Jaja disclosed that the government plans to establish the Bori Water Corporation upon completion of the project, which is intended to create employment, generate revenue and secure the lives of people of Ogoniland with quality water supply.
O his part, the Acting Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Phillip Shekwolo assured that the water projects in Ogoniland would be built and completed to meet international standard.
Shekwolo harped on the need for communities to have community water management committees (CWMCs) in order to take ownership of the water projects for sustainability and to as well address the issue of vandalism.
