By Edifon ABASI-OBOT

The active collaboration of the Governor Udom Emmanuel led government of Akwa Ibom State with the European Union, through the UNICEF and Niger Delta Support Programme, has made making significant impact in urban, semi-urban and rural water supply.

The Special Adviser, Bureau of Political/Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Barrister Ekong Sampson, made this known in a broadcast to mark the 2018 World Water Day in Akwa Ibom State.

Reiterating the importance Government attaches to water resources in the State, Ekong Sampson disclosed that the prevailing consciousness in his Bureau is that Water is as essential to life as Permanent Voter’s Card is to democracy, stressing that Akwa Ibom State is determined to get both right.

He said apart from the over 600 water facilities established across the length and breadth of the State, through the Akwa Ibom Water Company (AKWC), Akwa Ibom Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (AK-RUWATSAN), Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee and other related MDAs, the State Government has seized the partnership opportunity to further drive provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to schools and many communities in the State.

Accruing from the EU-AKSG partnership, Barrister Sampson added, over 30 solar-powered water facilities and 14 sanitation facilities have recently been added to the State under the NDSP Rural Water and Sanitation Scheme.

Under the small town component also that Work is ongoing for provision of safe water sources across 33 communities within the focal LGAs of NsitAtai and ObotAkara, Samspon said, even as he affirmed State Government’s commitment to rehabilitate and provide new water kiosks and reticulation across the state.

The Special Adviser lauded State Government’s demonstration of commitment to the partnership in meeting its counterpart funding obligations for each of the rural and small town components of the project, while urging people in the urban and rural communities of the State to join hands with Government to protect water infrastructure so that Water and Nature will be properly utilized for the benefit of our people, consistent with the theme of the 2018 World Water Day.

In a related development, members of Aimcare Nigeria, an NGO involved in water and sanitation, Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN), joined staff of AKWCL, AK-RUWATSAN and the Bureau in rally to mark the World Water Day.

Speaking at the rally, Barrister Sampson noted that the UN World Water Day presents an opportunity to learn more about water related issues and explore approaches toattainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which commits the world to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all in 2030.

Expounding the theme of the 25th World Water Day, “Nature for Water”, the Special expressed hope that event will provoke stakeholders in the water sector, and indeed all, to rise to the challenge of consolidating on the two-way relationship between water and nature towards the quest for the SDG 6 agenda.

Mr. MekidmfonUmana, co-founder and representative of the Aimcare NG, expressed delight with what is going on in the water and sanitation sector of the State. He said Aimcare NG, has over time been committed to helping rural communities and school across the country gain access to safe water and adapt to standard hygiene practices.

Mekidmfon said his organization has thought it wise to come down to Akwa Ibom and be part of what the government is doing in the water and sanitation sector.