Ondo State Government has rehabilitated 2,163 boreholes in 1,265 communities in the state. Also it provided 133 new boreholes facilities in 12 Local Government areas .
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Alhaji Yusuf Olabode gave the figures while reeling out the activities, achievements and challenges of the Ministry to the State House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources during its visit to the Ministry.
According to him, the Ministry also partnered for Expanded Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene(PEWASH) in 7 Local Governments for the rehabilitation of hand pumps, motorized solar powered boreholes, upgrading and drilling of simple solar boreholes.
The PS explained that the Ministry have also constructed KAMOMI Aketi accelerated water schemes with 5 km reticulation and capacity of 50mg/day in towns across the state.
Noting that the Ministry has done a lot in urban water supply through rehabilitation, upgrading and construction, he affirmed that it has also achieved a lot in sanitation and hygiene.
His words: “The ministry has articulated its programmes to enhance provision of potable water in the entire state and adequate sanitation for rural areas in an affordable and sustainable way
“The state government is particular about improving hygiene with a view to enhancing the health and general well being of the citizenry.
“In 2017,the percentage of water supply and access of the residents to potable water was abysmally low while many water supply facilities were moribund and dysfunctional.”
Olabode, who informed that the Ministry was created by the present administration to ensure that the sector was better managed in the state through the provision of portable water for all and ensure increased access to safe sanitation and hygiene, promised to continue to deliver on its mandate.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee,Jamiu Maito commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his political will in changing the narrative of the sector.
He averred that the service of the Ministry was very important to all and sundry as water is life, hence the need to continue to work effectively in all the local governments.
Other members canvassed for the effective monitoring and evaluation procedure to ensure the sustainability of projects.
The lawmakers advised the Management of the Ministry to start looking at collaborating with other donor Agencies as government cannot do it alone.
They added that the ministry should continue to pursue with vigour all sanitation and hygiene activities, such that open defecation will be totally eradicated, while washing of hand and menstrual hygiene will be encouraged.
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