From scarcity to sustainability: Inside Aiyedatiwa’s ₦75bn drive for potable water in Ondo
By Julius Alabi, Akure
In a state long plagued by irregular water supply and environmental sanitation challenges, Ondo State is taking a historic leap toward sustainable water access under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. The administration’s recent approval of a ₦75 billion water project alongside a parallel initiative to install solar-powered boreholes across the state, signals a transformative moment for the water sector in the Sunshine State.
At the heart of this ambitious undertaking is a clear vision, clean, safe, and accessible water for every household, irrespective of location. Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Hon. Ayodele Samson Akande, who revealed the governor’s approval on separate radio engagements in Akure, described the project as a “landmark commitment to public health, hygiene, and sustainable infrastructure.”
Ths is a new era in water infrastructure as the ₦75 billion water project represents the administration’s most audacious investment in public health infrastructure yet. It is designed not just as a stopgap solution but as a foundational system for the state’s water economy, revitalising existing assets such as the Owena Multipurpose Dam and integrating solar-powered facilities to guarantee round the clock supply.
For Akande, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), the initiative reflects a holistic, long term strategy. “Governor Aiyedatiwa is deeply concerned about the healthy living of our people,” he said. “Potable water and a clean environment are fundamental to their well-being. That is why he did not hesitate to approve this ₦75 billion project.”
The project, which spans Akure and other local government areas within the Central Senatorial District, also prioritises the resuscitation of moribund water infrastructure. The Owena Dam once seen as a failed promise is set to become a hub for potable water supply, irrigation, and possibly energy generation.
Running parallel to the ₦75 billion initiative is another strategic intervention, the installation of solar-powered boreholes across all senatorial districts in the state This approach, according to Akande, is a deliberate response to the perennial challenges of erratic electricity supply and rising maintenance costs that have crippled many conventional water systems in rural areas.
“Solar energy ensures uninterrupted access to water,” he explained. “It is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and aligns with the state’s clean energy transition agenda.”
So far, installations are underway in Ilaje, Irele, Oke-Igbo, Ikaram, Akure North, Ose, and Akoko North East, among others, a move designed to bridge the urban-rural divide in water access.
The water initiatives are deeply intertwined with the state’s broader sanitation and hygiene strategy. The Commissioner disclosed that the government had approved the construction of modern conveniences in public schools and institutions to discourage open defecation and promote health consciousness among students.
Public health experts argue that the correlation between access to clean water and disease prevention cannot be overstated. With the World Health Organisation estimating that nearly 30 per cent of Nigeria’s population still lacks access to safe drinking water, Ondo State approach could serve as a model for subnational governments seeking cost effective and sustainable solutions.
The Aiyedatiwa administration’s water reforms mark a decisive break from past inertia. Beyond the symbolism of a ₦75 billion approval, the initiative reflects a governance philosophy grounded in pragmatism and fiscal discipline, a deliberate effort to invest in projects that directly impact lives.
Akande’s call for public cooperation underscores a vital truth. infrastructure succeeds only when people take ownership. “This government means well for our people,” he said. “What we need now is collective responsibility for everyone to take ownership of these projects and ensure they serve their purpose.”
As the State accelerates its march toward clean water access, the challenge will be sustaining momentum ensuring that funding, maintenance, and community participation remain consistent. But one thing is clear, Aiyedatiwa’s government has turned the tide in a sector that has long suffered from neglect.
If implemented effectively, the ₦75 billion water project and the solar-powered borehole installations could redefine public infrastructure in the state not merely as government projects, but as enduring investments in human dignity, public health, and environmental sustainability.
In the words of one Akure resident, Olatunji Adebayo reacting to the announcement on radio, “If this government gives us water that runs every day, it would be more than a campaign promise, it would be a legacy.”
