By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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As we approach the dry season when potable water would become scarce, the Ondo State government has directed the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA to rehabilitate 100 boreholes and drill 30 new ones in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The Chairman of the Agency, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju disclosed this while leading the team of “Kamomi Aketi water Scheme” to Akure North local government in continuation of the exercise.
According to her, the team has started work last week in the area with the rehabilitations of five boreholes and drilling two new ones in Oke-Agunla community.
“The governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has given us a mandate to repair minimum of 100 boreholes and equally drill 30 new ones in this local government. Today, we moved to Ogbese where they have about 10 non functional boreholes, in Alayere, there is no functional boreholes, we just revived one now,also in Ilu-Abo it is the same story.It is a major challenge here.
“In the next two weeks, we are going to be in this axis, that is Alayere, Kasemola,Ilu-Abo, Ogbese, Temidire and it’s environs so as to solve all the problems.
“Today, we have revived five boreholes, we started working on the major ones, in Ilu-Abo, the one there was done for them by the Federal Government about 12 years ago, but it is not working again ,it is a major water project that we cannot afford to abandon because it can serve the whole community. I am sure we will be through with it”, She explained.
The RUWASSA boss who had earlier interacted with the communities on their mission and the area they expect them to work informed that the Agency has created community relation department who are to liaise with the communities in terms of maintaining all existing facilities.
Also speaking on behalf of the communities, Prince Dimeji Abitogun commended the state government for the loftly idea noting that it will go a long way in ensuring people have access to potable water.
To him, with the kind of equipment brought to the community, people will enjoy quality and clean water in the area.
He assured the team of communities’ readiness to support them in terms of logistic to ensure they succeed.
The Odopetu of Alayere, Chief Aderemi Adebusiyi who affirmed that it has been long the people of the area have been suffering without having access potable water applauded the state government for the scheme.
“All the community people are happy to receive them ,we are surprised that they started working on the moribund boreholes immediately, we have not seen such before, we thank the governor for this kind of programme”,He said.
Mrs Mary Stephen who spoke on behalf of the women in the communities said they would henceforth maintain the facilities and ensure children who normally spoilt the boreholes are properly monitored.
She explained that they have suffered for long as they have to trekked a long distance in search of water to drink saying with this gesture, they will be able to concentrate on their jobs and children.