Drama unfolded at a local church in Enugu when members of the congregation openly challenged the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, over claims that the Governor Peter Mbah administration had successfully restored water supply to most parts of the state capital.
The incident occurred during a church service where Professor Onyia was giving an update on the state government’s achievements. The situation escalated when the SSG asserted that the administration’s pipe-borne water project had reached a significant majority of homes in Enugu, fulfilling a key campaign promise.
Before the SSG could finish his address, several members of the congregation interrupted him, shouting, “It’s a lie!” The spontaneous protest quickly spread across the auditorium, with many worshippers murmuring in disapproval and shaking their heads. Witnesses report that the church leadership had to step in to calm the rowdy situation and restore order so the service could proceed.
”We couldn’t sit there and listen to that,” said a church member who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “In my neighborhood in Achara Layout, we haven’t seen a drop of tap water in months. We still rely heavily on commercial water tankers. Telling us water is flowing everywhere is an insult to our reality.”
Governor Peter Mbah had previously staked his political capital on a rigorous 180-day water campaign promise, declaring that scarcity in the coal city would become a thing of the past. While the government has commissioned ultra-modern water schemes including the 70-million-liter-per-day Ninth Mile 24/7 Water Project distribution remains a massive hurdle.
Residents across various quarters of Enugu continue to report mixed realities. Areas like Uwani, parts of Achara Layout, Awkunanaw, and high-altitude sections of Independence Layout report dry taps and broken distribution networks.
Some parts of New Haven and GRA have acknowledged an improvement in supply, though critics say it remains inconsistent. The confrontation highlights a growing friction between official government statistics and the daily experiences of everyday citizens who still bear the financial burden of buying water.
Following the incident, government sources reiterated that while water production has scaled up drastically, the state’s aging and ruptured reticulation pipeline network, some of which dates back decades, is the main reason many households are not yet receiving water.
Engineers are reportedly working in phases to replace the burst pipes across the metropolis. However, as the church confrontation proves, the patience of Enugu residents is wearing thin, and public skepticism remains high.
The state government has yet to release an official press statement regarding the church incident.
