Hope of water supply excites Kwara communities
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
The Jebba community in Moro Local Government Area in the north senatorial district of Kwara State has said the newly commissioned water works in the town has given it a sigh of relief from a perenial water supply problem.
The community stated this just as the Omu-Aran community in the Irepodun Local Government Area in the south district of the state also expressed delight in the rehabilitation of their over 45-year-old water works.
The communities made their feelings known during a media tour of projects embarked upon by the state government.
While the Jebba community is aready relishing in the relief the commissioned water works is giving it over hitherto lack of water supply the Omu-Aran community is elated by the hope of being restored to the days of durable water supply as the rehabilitation of its water works is said to be 90 per cent completed.
The two communities however called on the government to work on increasing the capacity of their respective water works for wider spread and greater frequency of water supply.
In Omu-Aran, the traditional ruler of the community Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitation project being carried out by the government on the water works in the town saying the community is in jubilation mood.
Represented by his traditional chiefs, Oba Adeoti, through the spokesperson of the chiefs, Chief Petu Aran of Omu-Aran, High Chief Lawrence Oladele- Ajiboye, said the Omu-Aran Urban water supply project had been commissioned since 1977 and that it once served the whole community with the neighbouring communities.
The monarch, who said that growth and development of the town had led to ever increasing expansion of both human development and business environment, added that the situation, thus, called for higher demand of infrastructural amenities.
He commended the governor for the rehabilitation of the once active water plant and called for more expansion for wider coverage.
“The water supply was extended to such towns as Odo-Owa and Iloffa before. So, it needs further expansion. However, on behalf of Olomu in Council, we thank our people’s governor, Malam Abdulrazaq for the efforts and commitment toward the rehabilitation of the water plant.
“We want more engineers and additional work force to work and monitor operation of the water works and supply in our community,” he said.
Oba Adeoti also commended the governor for the approval given for construction of the Omu-Aran 5.2kilometres township road, and completion of Omu Aran-Oko road.
“We also want to appreciate the governor for appointing one of our sons as CMD of the Thomas Adewumi Teaching Hospital,” he said.
Also speaking, the Site Supervisor at the ongoing Water Works Rehabilitation Project in Omu-Aran, Mr. Tunde Adewale, said that the rehabilitation project is 90 per cent completed.
Adewale, who said that the water works rehabilitation project has reached final stage, added that all the treatment plants are set.
“All the treatment plants are set. The pumps have been installed and new machines have been installed as directed by the Kwara State Government.
“The rehabilitation commenced since February 2025, and we have been supported with all our demands to perfect the project.
“We have done a 1,200 kilometers expansion and it will cover 50 per cent of the community after completion.
“I can confirm to you that the project is 90 per cent done. We only need a 500KV transformer to complete the rehabilitation,” he said.
Adewale also said that the newly installed pumps would pump 70 litres per second and could travel at 160 meters head.
In Jebba, the Water Operator at the water works in the town, Mr Sulaiman Abdulwaheed, told newsmen that residents now have access to clean water supply for three to four hours daily after the commission of the works by the governor in 2024.
Abdulwaheed explained that the water works which was commissioned by the state government in 2024 had the capacity of producing 200, 000 litres of water daily with 150,000 litres supply to the overhead tank which is distributed to fetching points in the community.
He said that the water works which supply only the Jebba community, source water from the River Niger, which then undergoes various stages of purification before being supplied to the community.
“We get the water from the River Niger to the pressure house where all sediments are removed, then to the filter where the water becomes 70% clean.
“We are aware that germs can escape from the filter, then it is passed another tank where chlorine and alum is added and left for 15 to 30 hours before it is released to the overhead tank for community consumption,” he said.
The water operator said that with a larger mainline pipe, increased overhead tank capacity and a stand-by generator, the community can have access to 12 hours water supply daily.
“We pump water for about two to three hours daily now, because the mainline pipe capacity cannot carry the pressure, but with a larger pipeline, residents will be able to enjoy 12 hours water supply daily.
“Then if the government can help us increase the capacity of the overhead tank that supplies the community from 200,000 litres to 300,000 litres, and also provide a stand-by generator, because we we usually have electricity challenges.
“We are very grateful for the intervention, the governor has relived us from many years of suffering without water but we plead with the government for more in these areas, so that we can be rest assured that the challenges of portable water for the community will be over,” Abdulwaheed stated.
