The Delta State House of Assembly has promised to work closely with the State Ministry of Water Resources Development to enhance the performance of the state government in the water sub – sector.
The Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources Development, Hon (Chief) Peter Uviejitobor, made the promise when he led other members of the Committee on a courtesy visit to the new Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Hon Evelyn Oboro, in her office in Asaba.
Uviejitobor, who represents Udu Constituency in the House, said the visit was to familiarize members of the Committee with the new Commissioner and her management team and to seek effective collaboration that would enhance the performance of the Ministry.
The Committee Chairman acknowledged the success recorded by the Okowa administration in the provision of potable water to parts of the state, saying, however, that much still needed to be done in that regard across the state.
The Lawmaker, accompanied by two members of the Committee, Hon Pat Ajudua, Oshimili North and Austin Uroye, WarriSouth One Constituency, assured of adequate budgetary provisions that would further promote efficiency in water resources development.
Uviejitobor also assured that his Committee would not be found wanting in its oversight duties, saying that from time to time members would visit projects under the supervision of the Ministry to ascertain the progress of work in comparison to budgetary provisions.
The Water Resources Commissioner, Hon Evelyn Oboro, thanked the Committee for its willingness to work with the Ministry to actualize government policies in water resources development and make more progress in the sector in the state.
Oboro said from her findings the Okowa administration in the past six years had done a lot for Deltans through the Ministry of Water Resources Development, though not many people were aware of the achievements of the Ministry.
The Commissioner, a former member of the National Assembly, agreed with the Committee on the need for collaboration to achieve greater progress in the sector, saying that effective oversight was key to democratic governance.
She told the Committee members that some projects executed by the state government and handed over to communities were not being well managed, stressing that the communities were still expecting government to continue to maintain the projects for them.
Oboro informed the Legislators that the contractor handling the Warri/Effurun Water Reservoir Project had promised to complete the first phase of the project within the next nine months, pointing out that over 5000 residents would benefit from the scheme.
She also briefed the Lawmakers on the state of the Ogbegonogo Water Project and the ongoing extension work in the area, disclosing that the Ministry was presently handling some of the challenges observed during her visit to the site.
The Commissioner described as laudable the Okpanam ATM Dispensing Water Project and announced plans to replicate the projects across the remaining twenty four local government areas of the state.
Oboro affirmed that “water is life” and that the Okowa administration was determined to give life to Deltans, insisting that communities across the state, especially densely populated areas, should be provided with clean water.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry and other top management staff were present during the visit.
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