Nwifuru Revives Abandoned  Oferekpe Water Scheme

The Ebonyi State Government has announced that the multi-billion Naira Oferekpe Water Scheme will commence operation before the end of this month.

This was contained in a statement by Dr. Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

According to the statement, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru disclosed this during an inspection tour of the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme, Water Works, Abakaliki, accompanied by members of the State Executive Council.

“It is our target to provide water to every home in the State Oferekpe Water Scheme will start pumping water from the end of this month and water from the scheme will be reticulated to Izzi, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ezza North, and Ezza South,” Governor Nwifuru was quoted as saying.

The statement also revealed that the Governor announced plans to reactivate the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme to boost water supply in the state.

“Old Abakaliki Water Scheme will come alive again. For instance, at the low lift here we are building a new pump house and the same thing is happening at the High lift at Juju Hill. They are cleaning and replacing obsolete facilities, while the Water Works reservoir has been fully reactivated,” he added.

Furthermore, Governor Nwifuru revealed that discussions have commenced with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to establish a 330 Mega Watts transmission station to enhance industrialization in the state. “Though it is capital intensive and estimated to take over 50 billion Naira, but we are already talking with TCN to know the possibility of embarking on the project because it is crucial for development,” he said.

The statement also noted that the state government has completed the installation of recycling waste machines at the State Pulverization plant in Umuoghara, which was inspected by the Governor during his tour.

When was Oferekpe Water Scheme Commissioned ?

A multibillion naira mega water scheme in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State built by Governor Martin Elechi, was inaugurated on March 19, 2015 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, also performed the groundbreaking of the 2790/3900 mega watts Ebonyi Independent Power Plant project also in Ikwo Local Government Area, said the projects were the first of its kind in the history of the country.
President Jonathan recalled that his administration, has approved the privatisation of the companies that gave room for the public private partnership in establishment of life touching projects.
 
Prof Nebo expressed happiness over the project, which he said, was in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
 
“When Mr. President heard the capacity of Ebonyi Independent Power Project, he was touched because no state in the federation has ever dreamt about it.
 
‘‘I believe very strongly that for the governor especially of Ebonyi State to conceive an idea as huge as 2,700 mega watts of electricity in a country that is dreaming of 4,500 mega watts, it has to be divine.”
Nebo said ‘’it took a lot of boldness, courage, single mindedness, commitment forPresident Jonathan to make sure that the Privatization Exercise was carried to the logical conclusion’’.
 
 He expressed optimism that the Independent Power Project when completed and the Multi-Million naira Mega Water Scheme sighted in the area which he inaugurated will change the economic fortune of the people and the State in general
 
 Governor Elechi in his remarks, commended the President through the minster of power for performing the exercise which he said was dream come true.
 
 He said there were endless meetings with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Gas Company of Nigeria and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission leading to the issuance of license for the Independent Power Plant project.

Former Governor Decries Abandonment of Aillions of Naira Mega Water

The former governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi in April 2024 lamented that the multi – billion naira Oferekpe water scheme which he completed, test ran for three weeks and was commissioned by the former Minister under President Good luck Jonathan’ s administration, Prof. Nebo was destroyed and abandoned immediately he left office.

Elechi disclosed this while addressing a mammoth crowd who attended his 83rd birthday celebration at St Theresa’s Catholic cathedral, Abakaliki.

The former governor  was reacting to the call made by the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki, Bishop Peter Chukwu Nworie urging the Governor of Ebonyi state to please repair Oferekpe water scheme to enable Ebonyi people have water to drink.

He disclosed that he wept the day he was moving towards PRESCO junction in Abakaliki and saw caterpillar vandalizing the pipes used to reticulate water from the Oferekpe water scheme to different parts of the state.

Recall that due to great deficit in potable water supply, guinea worm was endemic, especially in the Abakaliki bloc of the state.

This made Chief Elechi on assumption of office to embark on a  mega water Scheme which gulped over N30 billion at Oferekpe in Ikwo local government area to solve the perennial water problem which has followed the state for years.

The giant water scheme has a production capacity of 100,000 M3 per day and is said to be the largest water scheme east of the Niger.

 Former Governor’s Reactions

In his remarks, the immediate past governor of the state, Chief David Umahi eulogized Chief Martin Elechi and described him as a man of many parts and a man that saw it all from the struggle for the creation of Ebonyi State to the governance of the state.

Umahi said that there is no competence in governance in that every political leader comes up to do his own beat and leave the stage for another to continue from where he stopped since government is a continuum .

He noted that he fought  lots  of battles as a leader as a result of the exigencies of the office he was occupying and requested that all those he offended should please find a place in their hearts and forgive him.

The highlight of the event was decorating and conferring the Chief celebrant, Chief Martin Elechi with a title, ” Grand Commander of our Hall of Fame”.