Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, on Wednesday, flagged off the construction of 14.5 kilometres of high-capacity transmission pipelines in Enugu.
The pipeline is from Nsude to the Terminal Reservoir at Miliken Hill aimed at strengthening water supply to Enugu city.
The water project is in line with Mbah’s determined efforts to get water to the last mile across the state capital.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the project was supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) under the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme.
He said the programme was a bold step in his administration’s determination to deliver his promise to provide reliable and sustainable water supply to the people of the state.
“For too long, access to clean water has been a challenge. But we are currently changing that story permanently.
“The construction of this critical transmission pipeline will significantly strengthen our water distribution backbone, ensuring that potable water reaches homes, businesses, and institutions across Enugu metropolis efficiently and consistently.
“But beyond the infrastructure, this project is about people. It is about improving public health by reducing waterborne diseases. It is about supporting businesses and driving economic growth,” he stated.
Earlier, while receiving the ambassador in his office, Mbah said that his administration had significantly addressed the upstream challenges by successfully increasing water generation from 2 million litres daily to 120 million litres in 180 days.
He added that his administration was aggressively dealing with the downstream by laying ductile iron pipes in place of old, asbestos pipes, which had gravely failed to withstand increased water pressure.
Mbah also said his administration had compassionately braved the cost of laying new pipes instead of pulling down so many buildings constructed on major water pipelines.
“However, we are never interested in inundating the people with excuses. We are rather determined to get water to the last mile.
“If you tell them you are generating 80m litres or 120m litres, but they turn their taps and nothing flows, it will not work. When they turn their tap and get water, that is the only time you will make sense to them.
“So, for the upstream, we will continue to generate the water. But we need private sector participation in the downstream.
“We are happy to work with any of the companies you can recommend to us,” Mbah said.
On his part, the French Ambassador said the Government of France, through the French Development Agency, had supported the urban water sector across Nigeria to the tune of $340 million over the past decade.
“So, this particular project reflects the strength of Franco-Nigerian cooperation. It brings together expertise from both countries, with Nigerian and French companies working hand in hand, from design to implementation.
“This partnership ensures not only high-quality infrastructure, but also knowledge transfer and local capacity building,” Fonbaustier stated.
He lauded Mbah’s sterling leadership qualities, expressing the readiness of the French Government to partner with Enugu State in many areas the Mbah administration had blazed the trail.
“I commend you for who you are and what you have achieved to date. I am impressed by your profile, but also your result-oriented action.
“You are a man obsessed with time, timelines, roadmaps, and measures of impact. You want to transform Enugu State.
“To shape and build up an airline, which is already certified, with a concession for the Enugu airport in a short spell of time, is completely amazing and out of the usual standards in Nigeria.
“Let us be honest, you are obsessed with supplying basic services to your people,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in their remarks, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Enugu State, Mr Ben Collins Ndu, Managing Director, Enugu Water Corporation, Dr Michael Nwachukwu; and the Chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Mr Hyginus Agu, thanked the ambassador for the project.
Ndu commended French Government for its goodwill and support towards the development efforts in Enugu State.
