Ondo defends removal of old water pipes, cites ₦300m Ikare rehabilitation project
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government has defended the removal of ageing water pipelines in Ikare-Akoko, saying the exercise is part of a rehabilitation programme aimed at restoring potable water supply and replacing obsolete infrastructure with safer, modern piping networks.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Hon. Ayodele Akande, said the old wrought-iron and steel pipes had outlived their usefulness and required replacement to improve water distribution and protect public health.
Akande’s position followed a video circulated by Sahara Reporters, which allegedly portrayed the removal of the pipelines as an improper handling of public infrastructure.
In a statement issued by the ministry, the commissioner insisting that the dismantling of the old pipes was a necessary step in the rehabilitation of the water system.
He explained that the pipes, which had been in use for years, were aged and rusted, making their replacement necessary to ensure safer water transmission and more efficient distribution to residents.
According to him, the government’s objective is to replace the obsolete steel pipelines with modern polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes capable of supporting a more reliable water supply system.
The commissioner said the intervention was part of the administration’s broader efforts to improve access to clean water and strengthen public sanitation under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
The state government has made provision for ₦300 million in the 2026 budget for the rehabilitation and solarisation of borehole water schemes under the Ikare Area Office.
The allocation is intended to support efforts to improve water access in Ikare-Akoko and surrounding communities, where residents have faced challenges associated with inadequate potable water supply.
Akande said the removal of the old pipelines should be understood within the context of the ongoing rehabilitation process rather than interpreted as the unauthorised removal of public property.
He argued that retaining deteriorated pipes could undermine the effectiveness of the water system and frustrate efforts to provide residents with safe drinking water.
The commissioner stressed that replacing obsolete infrastructure was essential to achieving a functional water supply network, adding that the government remained committed to improving water services across the state.
The commissioner also urged media organisations, particularly online publishers, to verify information with relevant government agencies before publishing reports capable of creating public misunderstanding about ongoing projects.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to modernising water infrastructure and improving public health through the provision of safe and sustainable water services.
