The Commissioner for Water Resources, Delta State, Mr. Fidelis Tilije, said water policy and laws are underway to invigorate the water sector and make it more functional in providing consistent and effective water supply services to Deltans.
Tilije gave this assurance during an interactive session with heads of various zones of the water sector and the heads of departments of the ministry and agencies under it to review challenges facing the schemes in the zones and proffer possible solutions in addressing the issues to enable them function efficiently and effectively.
He urged the zonal heads to identify potential and capacities of revenue generating schemes in their zones so that they could be reactivated to drive funds and maintain the schemes adding that the income generated should at least be able to offset the operational cost.
The commissioner urged them to take a decision on the best type of pipe and justification for it considering the duration and geographical locations of the schemes, saying that there is need for consistency in provision of adequate and portable water supply as well as expansion of the networks to increase the revenue base.
He charged the zonal heads on reorientation by changing their culture, attitude to work, be investment oriented, team work, have good maintenance culture and see government assets as their personal assets as that is the only way they could build their career, get motivated, job security and adequate salary.
Tilije noted that in order to generate revenue for the sector, there would be need to bring in private participation adding that before the end of the year, the water policy would have been in place and water law enacted to enable them function effectively.
He noted that there are many areas the sector could generate income such as quality certification of water from private boreholes, “all these we will need to pursue with all vigor”, he stated.
Among the heads of zones presents were, Ozoro, Kwale, Orerokpe, Sapele, Ughelli, Agbor and Warri. Each identifying problems in their zones to include, damaged pipe lines, inadequate personnel, tools, vandalization, collapsed fences, power problem, obsolete solar system, broken down generating sets, lack of diesel, vehicle, office stationeries, dilapidated office building, and office furniture, among others
Out of the 28 schemes at Orerokpe, only 1 of the schemes is functioning while out of 23 schemes in Sapele, only 14 are functioning and only 3 schemes function out of 32 schemes in Ughelli zone. Agbor zone which had 71 schemes has only 6 of the schemes functioning while the two major income generating schemes in Warri zone have broken down.
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