By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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Impressed by the success recorded in “Kamomi Aketi Accelerated Water Scheme” of the present government in Ondo State, the Federal Government has adopted the model for all states across the federation.

To this end, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources through its PEWASH programme in conjunction with the Ondo State government have organised a day training programme for participants across the six geo-political zones of the country in Akure, the state capital to understudy the Ondo system.

Speaking at the event, the PEWASH National Coordinator from Abuja ,Mrs Jummai Umar-Wakasso noted that PEWASH programme was launched by the federal government in 2016 by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo where  all the governments of the thirty six states were urged to declare intention in partnering with the programme. She said so far, twenty two states have shown interest while Kano State being the first to show interest was the piloted state ,followed by Ogun state.

According to her, the aim of the government is to massively rehabilitate boreholes across the federation through the programme.

The coordinator explained that Ondo State model is cost effective and community driven because , the Federal Government has been spending 400,000 naira to rehabilitate one hand pump borehole contracted out compared to the 81,000 naira been used by the state through the Ondo Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA team to rehabilitate same.

“To achieve our target, we have to go the way of Ondo model, through the training of today, I and my colleagues have learnt a lot and as we are going back, this is what we are going to adopt.

“Ondo model is a very good one, it is another milestone to the PEWASH family. We are happy that Ondo state has shown us the right direction, the state model is special, therefore Ondo is automatically under the PEWASH programme.

Earlier, the Chairman, Ondo State RUWASSA, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju who took the participants through the state’s model explained extensively how it is being done.

Mrs Adeyanju explained that when the present government came on board there was acute water shortage, as water supply was just 4 percent in the state.

She explained that Kamomi was launched in March 2018, and a week later, he was appointed as Chairman, noting that so far, the state government has resuscitated no fewer than 803 boreholes across the state.

She commended the strong determination of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for giving the team adequate support and also the staff of the Agency whom she said are passionately committed to the programme.

“It is a plus for us in the state and I am very proud of Mr Governor because ,we were able to achieve the feat based on his direction and the mandate given to us.

“It is a challenge for us to do more, now that the Federal Government has adopted our system, we will continue to move forward ,we will sustain the tempo and continue to make impact”, she assured.

While telling the participants that the scheme is all inclusive as the state government usually mobilised and sensitised communities visited on the need to take charge by maintaining the facilities, she informed that ever since, all the boreholes resuscitated or drilled are working perfectly.

The RUWASSA boss who explained to the participants that if they are to achieve results in the programme, they must be ready to cut cost and be prudent submitted that community mobilisation is important .

Also, the General Manager of Ondo State RUWASSA, Engr. Rotimi Oladimeji who took the general overview of the scheme affirmed that the agency has adequate human resources and machines but was doing nothing for ten years because it lacks counterpart funds to back it up until the present government in the state came on board .

He stressed that the present government has strong political will to ensure adequate supply of water across the state through the launching of the scheme emphasising that the programme has added value to the state and the people are feeling the impact.

Cross section of participants who spoke in  separate interviews with The Hope applauded the initiative of the Ondo State government adding that with what they have learnt, they are going back to their various states to adopt the model  in order to achieve the set goal .