Water supply: Ondo LGs gets pipes for Owena dam project
By Julius Alabi, Akure
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has intensified efforts to tackle persistent water scarcity in the state, with the arrival of the first batch of ductile iron pipes and critical equipment for the rehabilitation of the Owena Multipurpose Dam Water Treatment Plant and expansion of the Akure urban water supply system.
The development marks a major step in the state government’s plan to restore regular pipe-borne water supply to residents across seven local government areas, as the administration moves towards the implementation of a comprehensive urban water infrastructure project.
Aiyedatiwa, who inspected the consignment delivered by CGC Nigeria Limited at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, on Wednesday, charged the contractor to ensure strict compliance with approved technical specifications and deliver the project within the stipulated timeframe.
The governor warned against unnecessary delays, stressing that his administration was determined to translate its campaign promises into tangible projects that would directly improve the living conditions of residents.
He described the arrival of the equipment and pipes, procured from China, as a significant milestone in the efforts to address the perennial challenge of inadequate access to potable water in the state.
According to him, the project represents one of the key commitments made to the people during his electioneering campaign, adding that his administration was determined to leave behind a legacy of sustainable water infrastructure.
“We want to deliver this as soon as possible. Our time here is tenured. I want to deliver a legacy project for our people, based on the promises we made during our election campaign.
“We don’t want to make these promises without fulfilment. And this is one of the fulfilments of those promises, by providing healthy, clean, pipe-borne water for our people to drink,” he said.
The governor recalled that the project was officially flagged off at the Owena Multipurpose Dam on December 9, 2025, noting that the arrival of the materials demonstrated the government’s determination to move beyond project announcements to actual implementation.
The National Urban Water Sector Reform Project and Akure Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project are being implemented by the Ondo State Water Corporation, with support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The consignment inspected by the governor comprises valves, couplings, discharge machinery, mixers, backwash pumps, vacuum ventilators and ductile iron pipes, which are expected to facilitate the transmission of treated water from the Owena facility to service reservoirs across Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, who commended the Ondo State Water Corporation, the Project Implementation Unit, AFD, CGC Nigeria Limited and project consultants, SGI, said access to clean water remained fundamental to public health, economic activities and community development.
He, however, emphasised that the government’s objective went beyond the arrival of construction materials, insisting that the ultimate measure of success would be the availability of clean and reliable water in people’s homes.
“Our ultimate objective is not merely to receive equipment or complete construction works. It is to ensure that the people of Ondo State enjoy improved access to reliable and sustainable potable water,” he said.
The governor consequently directed the contractor to ensure proper handling, installation and deployment of the equipment in accordance with approved engineering specifications, while urging project officials to maintain effective supervision and enforce quality, safety and accountability standards.
Earlier, the Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Mrs Victoria Adetoye, said the arrival of the first batch of pipes had put to rest doubts about the feasibility of the project.
She expressed optimism that residents of the benefiting communities would begin to enjoy improved access to pipe-borne water in their homes by the corresponding period next year.
Adetoye disclosed that the first phase of the project would cover six local government areas in the Central Senatorial District and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area in the Southern Senatorial District, bringing the total number of benefiting councils to seven.
She said the development was evidence of the governor’s commitment to transforming the state’s water sector, adding that residents who had endured years of inadequate water supply could look forward to improved service delivery.
“Majority of people thought this was impossible. But here we are witnessing it live. Since your inception, sir, you promised that your government would be different. And we can see it live.
“By this time next year, by God’s grace, every one of us will be taking water in our own abode,” she said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Limited, Wang Peng, expressed delight over the arrival of the first batch of pipes and thanked the state government and the water sector implementation team for their support.
He assured the governor that the company would execute the project according to schedule and in line with the required technical and quality standards.
The project is expected to strengthen water supply infrastructure, improve access to safe drinking water and address some of the longstanding challenges associated with the distribution of treated water across the benefiting communities.
Among dignitaries present during the inspection were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Muyiwa Ogunyemi; Director-General, OSRC Media Group, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson; and other political appointees.
