Opinion
By Obike Ukoh
WHEN Ebonyi State was created on Oct. 1, 1996, by late Military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, many federal civil servants posted to the state entertained one fear: The fear of being infested with guinea worm, a water borne disease.
As a result of great deficit in potable water supply, guinea worm was endemic, especially in the Abakaliki bloc of the state.
On guinea worm endemic, Prof. Ekanem Braide, then Zonal Facilitator, Nigeria Guinea worm Eradication Programme, NIGEP, has this to say in February 2,000: “As we close our books for 1996, the current status of guinea worm in Ebonyi is that Ebonyi accounts for 3,370 of the 4,684 cases reported in South-East zone in 1996.
“This is equivalent to the number of cases reported in India, Cameroon, Yemen, Chad, Mauritania and Benin Republic put together, and about the number of cases Burkina Faso reported in 1996.’’
She said that based on the projected case reduction, Ebonyi may carry guinea worm disease into the 21st century.
She, however, said that the state may be guinea worm free by 1999, if there was sustained water supply.
The projection, according to Braide “assumed that everyone in Ebonyi will drink only safe water during 1999 transmission session.”
About 3,000 people were infested with full blown guinea worm infection when Gov. Sam Egwu assumed office on May 29, 1999.
To check the spread, government identified 1,273 ponds for treatment, while 873 were treated.
Government also stepped up health services, which was implemented in 451 endemic villages.
Nigeria did not record any case of guinea worm since 2008, but the country had to wait for the mandatory period of six years of zero case, before being certified guinea worm free.
The certification, unarguably, was as a result of sustained water policies by Ebonyi State, the most endemic guinea worm area in the world.
Without doubt, massive investments in potable water supply by Ebonyi State Government made it possible for Nigeria to exit the club of guinea worm endemic country.
It was on arrival in Abakaliki, that the “newcomers’’ who came as a result of the creation of the new state, now discovered that guinea worm is indeed a rural disease, prevalent in areas that lacked potable water supply.
Also to their surprise, unlike in many state capitals, public water supply was functional in Abakaliki, headquarters of Abakaliki senatorial zone, now capital of the state.
The Ezillo Regional Water Scheme, build during the tenure of Gov, Jim Nwobodo of old Anambra State, that spanned from August, 1979 to 1983 serviced Abakaliki and its environs.
With a new administration was in place, investments in the water sector were beefed up. Uduma Eze, the pioneer General Manager of Ebonyi Water Corporation, extended the frontiers of water supply in Abakaliki and its environs.
Eze’s successors sustained water supply within Abakaliki and its environs. Supply of potable water within Abakaliki and its environs peaked during the tenure of Paul Okorie, who served as the General Manager of Ebonyi Water Corporation from March 2,000 to Oct. 18, 2005
But, regrettably, today the taps had gone dry with residents depending on sachet water for potable water. The economy of depending on sachet water, is, however, hitting hard on many residents.
Otti Amah, a Director in Ebonyi Pubic Service, said depending on sachet water is very expensive, especially for a large family, adding that he could not afford sachet water daily for his family. He explained that his family is made up seven persons and on the average, they consume three bags of sachet water daily.“ At a cost of N200 per bag, that means that I will spend N600 daily only on sachet water.’’
He said that since he could not afford that in addition to other responsibilities as a family man, that was why he resorted to drink water fetched from the borehole.
“I moved round Abakaliki and located where they have boreholes of standard. That is where I go regularly with big containers to fetch potable water for family use.
“It is regrettable, that water an essential commodity is now scare in Abakaliki. During the time of Gov. Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi there was no problem of public water supply as the Ebonyi State Water Corporation supplied water to Abakaliki, the state capital and its environs.
“What Ebonyi people need most is potable water supply not the kind of projects executed by the government, especially flyovers, that have no direct or indirect impact on the people,’’ Amah stressed.
He also said that during this rainy season, many families are harvesting rain water for drinking.
Okorie, the former General Manager of Ebonyi Water Corporation, who spoke on the issue, said that investments were not sustained in the water sector, which resulted to the present situation.
Okorie, who was General Manager from March 2000 to Oct. 18, 2005, said that public water supply was regular during his tenure.
He noted that supply of potable water was weakened by the scrapping of Ebonyi Water Corporation by the past administration. Okorie noted that merging Water Corporation with the ministry was not the best decision.
“Water Corporation is the engine room of water supply, if you merge it with the ministry how can it perform,’’ he said.
Okorie also said that government showed commitment during his tenure to sustain potable water supply.
“ Money was regularly released for the purchase of chemicals.
“ At a point, N100 million was released for the purchase of chemicals. That chemical lasted for two to three years.’’
Okorie also said that the Ezilllo Regional Water Scheme was functional throughout his tenure.
He added that the 40 million litres capacity water reservoir located on Abakaliki-Enugu dual way was in good shape during his tenure.
“Water was regularly pumped from the Ezillo Regional Water Scheme to the reservoir, water supply was regular in Abakaliki.
“ At a time, almost all parts of Abakaliki enjoyed regular water supply, water supply was even extended to the Army Barracks in Nkwegu,’’ Okorie added.
He said that the way out is to show commitment in investment in the water sector.
Okorie stressed that the Oferekpe Regional Water Scheme, which has capacity to supply potable water to eight local government areas, constructed by the Gov. Martin Elechi administration should be made functional once again.
Water was supplied to some parts of the state from the Eferekpe Water Scheme in 2007, shortly before Elechi left office on May 29, 2007.
The Ezillo Regional Water Scheme needs rehabilitation. If that is done the present potable water scarcity in Abakaliki and its environs will be greatly reduced.
Abakaliki enjoyed uninterrupted water supply even without an Eferekpe Regional Water Scheme.
The Ezillo Regional Water Scheme, should be restored to its previous status as a remedial measure, in order to save residents from further economic hardship of buying sachet water daily for consumption.
Tags: Gov. Sam Egwu Prof. Ekanem Braide
