By Maria Famakinwa
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It was a dream come true for the people of Ayede-Ogbese, one of the adjoining communities in Akure North Local Government area of Ondo State, when the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, officially commissioned a water project titled “Kamoni Aketi”, accelerated water scheme in the community.

    The Hope gathered that before the Governor’s intervention, getting access to potable water  to drink had been an  extremely difficult task for the people in the area as many of them trekked long distance to available streams which in the long run had devastating effects on their health. The water scheme with 100,000 litres and 160 fetching points is  an innovation and sustainable plan for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) aimed at providing safe water supply to over 3,000 communities. The scheme which is powered with solar energy and two deep boreholes to achieve 100 per cent open defecation free is a rapid response by the state government in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Governor Akeredolu  at the commissioning stressed that potable water is prerequisite to environmental hygiene and an ingredient to ensure human health. ” Government must be responsible  and responsive to the needs of the people, we have been able to do that. We met water supply at four per cent, it is not something any government can stand, but with all these boreholes rehabilitated, it has really improved. This will further improved Ondo State laws on open defecation.”

    While appreciating the governor on behalf of Alayede in Council, the Odopetu of Ayede-Ogbese, High Chief Deji Abitogun recalled that the community tabled its most pressing need to the government leading to the provision of over 160 water taps that would serve up to 8000 persons in the community.

 “Water problems have been solved to a large extent. Villages and towns like Eleyewo, Ilu-Abo,  Bolorunduro, Alayere among others in the local government are benefiting from it. Before this present administration brought succour and reprieve to our community, our people were drinking from the untreated river Ogbese where they contracted water -borne disease like guineaworm, cholera, typhoid fever, trypanasonomia among others. He who gives us water gives  us life. Mr Governor, you have given us life in Ayede-Ogbese. We urged that this gesture is replicated in other areas of the state.”

     Some residents of Ayede -Ogbese who spoke with The Hope thanked Governor Akeredolu for the water project which they maintained will go a long way to solve the suffering encountered daily regarding getting water.

   A food seller , Mrs Serifat Liyasu who described herself as the happiest person in the community due to the commissioning of the project said that God has answered her prayers as she narrated what she went through in the past before she could get water. “I  run a canteen here to meet my family needs. This business as expected need a lot of water which daily give me serious problem. Mostimes, I trek long distance looking for water. It becomes worst during dry season but now, I am very happy and grateful to our governor for this water project.”

   On what the people are doing to protect the project, she said that since it is a project that benefits everyone in the area, there is a concerted efforts to watch over it all the time and make sure it is handled properly and if anyone is caught for not handling it the way it should, such will be reported to the appropriate quarter.

    Sharing similar sentiment, a trader, Mrs Opeyemi Akande who could not hide her joy revealed that the residents of Ayede- Ogbese before commissioning the water project were left with no option but to trek to Ogbese river to fetch water because it was the major source of drinking water. “We are happy now that we have access to safe water because the Ogbese river that we depended on in the past was not even safe for drinking as it was not treated and poses danger to health.

   “Atimes, the water changed colour yet, we will still fetch since it was the only one available but now, our governor has given us good potable water which will further improve our health and safety. We shall remain grateful for this kind gestures. It is only those who have experienced water shortage before who can understand better what I am talking about. When there is no water, one is prevented from doing a lot of things that improve hygiene because you will want to manage the little one you have.

     ” On how the water can be protected against misuse, she  said that the people of the area have been given the responsibility to protect it and we have been doing this because if it spoil, we will all suffer for it.

  A student, Master Idowu Atijosin, also commended the present administration for providing water for the people of the area as he revealed that some buildings in the community with toilets have not been able to use them because it will require water to flush. “Some buildings in this area have  toilets but the people there prefer to make use of bush when they want to use toilet because there was no water. With this water project, it will improve human health.

  “Before now, we struggled on a daily basis to cope with chronic water shortage. I fetched water every day from Ogbese river  before going to school and when I am back  from school which was not only tasking but also telling on my health and makes me to get to school late sometimes.  I am grateful to Mr Governor for this water project, it is indeed a great relief to me in particular because there will be no need of trekking that far distance to Ogbese river again, this is more closer to my house.”

  On ways to protect the project from damaging he said that the community have people already assigned for that role and that every resident of Ayede -Ogbese are also  duty bound to watch over the water scheme for it to last longer for the over all benefits of the people. “None of us want to go back to years of suffering to get safe water, to this effects, everyone is responsible for the protection of this laudable water scheme to serve the people longer.

“Parents have also been warned not to send little ones there to fetch water so that they do not waste or spoil it.”