Thursday 22 September 2011

COMMUNITIES ADVISED TO CO-OPERATE WITH CONTRACTORS

Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva has called on the fourteen benefiting communities of the proposed Ogbia Central Water Scheme to co-operate with the contractor handling the project to ensure its completion on schedule.
Chief Sylva, who spoke during the flag-off of the rehabilitation and expansion of the water project at Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area, said the call has become imperative in view of the importance government attaches to the project as well as to discourage the current trend where communities make all sorts of demands on contractors.
He specifically told the people to avoid anything that will disrupt the smooth operations of the contracting firm as the contractor has a deadline to complete its assignment.
Citing the on-going regional water schemes at Oloibiri and Nembe, Yenagoa reticulation phase one and two, upgrading of the Yenagoa Main Water works at Okaka, and inauguration of 13 rural water schemes among others, the Governor noted that his administration has made some appreciable progress in the water   sector.
While thanking the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the state government in the area of water supply, Governor Sylva called on the Ministry of Water Resources and other stakeholders in the project to take the communities into partnership in the management of the project to ensure its sustainability.
The State Chief Executive also made a strong appeal to the federal government to resuscitate the Peremabiri Rice Farm Project, adding that Bayelsa State has vast swamp lands suitable for commercial rice production.
In her remarks, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe said the project, which would be executed by an Israeli company, NAIRDA Limited at the total cost of 4.5 billion naira, is expected to be completed in 18 months.
She said the ministry engaged the services of an indigenous group to handle the design of the project.
According to the Minister, the project when completed will supply about 15 million litres of water per day.
Mrs. Ochekpe further said “studies conducted in the area and through interactions with both officials of your state and the communities, we discovered that the surface water from the nearby rivers contain pollutants due to industrial activities.  That is why the present project will concentrate on getting water from underground source.”
The Minister urged the state government to appoint a competent representative who will work closely with the ministry and other stakeholders in the project to ensure compliance to specification.
Mrs. Ochekpe also disclosed that her ministry is already working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to reclaim 200 hectares each, of farmland in Peremabiri and Ogbia areas of Bayelsa State as part of Federal Government’s current efforts at boosting rice cultivation in the country.
Giving further insight into the scope of the project, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali, explained that the main pumping station, which is sited at Otuoke, comprises large diameter boreholes complete with submersible pumps and accessories.
According to him, the project also has water treatment plant with aerators for iron removal, sedimentation and filtration systems, surface clean water tank (900m3), Braithwaite overhead tank (900m3), power supply from PHCN and standby generators, among others.
Dr. Igali added that the project will have booster stations in three different locations to service the adjourning communities.
Earlier in his welcome address, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Kurokigha Francis, observed that implementation of a sustainable water supply programme is capital-intensive and would require significant levels of funding from the state and federal governments as well as other interventionist development partners.
He commended the federal government for responding to the state government’s request for intervention in the water sector, pointing out that “the synergy as already demonstrated will ensure an effective coordination and avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and dissipation of energy and resources”.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor, Mr. Guy Pelek promised to apply international standards in the execution of the project and complete it on schedule.
He said the company (NAIRDA) was ready to partner with the beneficiary communities and train some of their youths in water management and allied areas as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Otuoke Community, HRH Lot Ogiasa, represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Otazi, thanked the Federal Government for siting the project in his domain and called for its replication in other parts of the state.
He however appealed to government not to pay lip service to the project so that it will not suffer this same fate with other abandoned projects initiated by the Federal Government in the area such as the much-talked about Oloibiri Oil Museum.
 
Chris Odi
For: Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
 

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