By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
The people of Aiyegunle Gbedde, a community in Kogi West Senatorial district of kogi state, have been commended for protecting government infrastructure in their custody.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr..Yahaya MD Farouk,gave the commendation when he had interactive session with journalists in lokoja recently.
“I must commend Aiyegunle Gbede, a community in Kogi West, that has been protecting our infrastructure in their locality.
“There was part of our water equipment auctioned about five years ago.
” The auctioneers could not come close to collecting the equipment because the community stood their ground, insisting that the auctioneers must see the Ministry of Water Resources before any thing could be done. This is what we want and should be replicated across board. We must stand our ground to stop our critical infrastructure in Kogi State from being vandalized.
“I want to use this opportunity to emphasize on community ownership of our installation across the State,”he said.
On the ongoing by the state government to solve scarcity of potable water in Lokoja,Engr.Faroul disclosed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had approved the commencement of rehabilitation of old Lokoja Water Works with cash backing.
The Commissioner explained that the plant,when rehabilitated, would supply water to some areas of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, pending the completion of repairs at the Greater Lokoja Water Works, damaged by floods in 2012.
Farouk assured kogites that the State government had taken pragmatic steps to replace equipment submerged at the Greater Lokoja Water Works, adding that it will take at least,12 months to complete.
He explained that the procurement process for greater Lokoja water works had reached about 80 per cent, stressing that, the state government had almost concluded plans with the contractors to bring the plant back to shape.
He emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing the water scarcity, appealed to residents for patience, assuring them that efforts were on to resolve the issue.
“Before Friday, contractors will assume work for the rehabilitation of old Lokoja water works. It has been approved and cashed back by the Governor of Kogi State. “Within the shortest possible time, water supply will return to Lokoja metropolis” he added.
Engr. Farouk debunked reports making the rounds that the reservoir for old Lokoja water works has been sold.
“This is not true and should be disregarded by the general public. This is the hand work of mischief makers who keep spreading fake news to discredit the government’s efforts at restoring water to Lokoja metropolis,” he stressed.
On security,the Commissioner told journalists that some suspects who vandalized armoured cables for greater Lokoja Water works in Ganaja Village had been arrested.
“I am convinced that it was an internal problem. We wrote to the State Police Command and arrests were made concerning some suspects who went to vandalize armoured cables meant for greater Lokoja water works.
“The private security agencies were engaged and later sent a report that some people have owned up that the armoured cables were sold to someone in Ganaja.
“We have tank A which is supposed to supply water to tank B which has also been vandalized. We will arrest all of them, no matter their hiding place. Any person that vandalize public infrastructure that is expected to serve the people will not go unpunished,” he promised.
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