Kemi Olatunde
For many residents of Akure and neighbouring communities, access to clean and reliable water has remained a daily struggle for years. Households wake up before dawn in search of water, businesses spend significant resources sourcing alternative supplies, while communities continue to grapple with the health and economic consequences of inadequate access to potable water.
But after nearly two decades of delays, abandonment and uncertainty, the long-awaited revival of the Owena Dam Water Supply Project is offering renewed hope to millions of residents across Ondo State.
The project, which was first conceived and inaugurated during the administration of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu, was envisioned as a comprehensive solution to the growing water needs of Akure, the state capital, and surrounding communities. However, despite its enormous potential, the initiative suffered years of neglect as successive administrations failed to see it through to completion.
Today, the story appears to be changing.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa recently approved an additional N8.5 billion in counterpart funding for the project.
This has been described by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Sanitation and Public Hygiene, Hon. Ayodele Akande as a major breakthrough in efforts to finally deliver one of the state’s most strategic infrastructure investments.
A project decades in the making
Akande described urban water infrastructure while speaking with The Hope as one of the most critical foundations for economic development. Without reliable water supply, industries struggle to expand, healthcare facilities face operational challenges, educational institutions suffer, and households bear increased financial burdens.
According to him, the original vision behind the Owena Dam project was to establish a sustainable water supply system capable of serving the growing population of Akure and its surrounding settlements.
He lamented that what began as a promising intervention eventually became one of several abandoned public projects across the state.
For years, residents watched as the unfinished infrastructure stood as a reminder of unrealised promises and interrupted development plans.
The current administration has now placed the project among its priority interventions, insisting that abandoned projects with significant public value must be completed rather than left to deteriorate.
According to the Commissioner, work resumed in earnest about two years ago, with contractors mobilised back to site and implementation efforts intensified.
The renewed commitment, he explained, is aimed at ensuring that the project finally delivers on its original objective of providing safe and sustainable water to the people.
Why counterpart funding matters
One of the major challenges confronting large-scale infrastructure projects in developing economies is financing.
The Owena Dam Water Supply Project is being implemented through a partnership involving international development institutions, including the African Development Bank and the French Development Agency.
Under such arrangements, development partners provide substantial funding support, while beneficiary governments are required to contribute counterpart funding as evidence of commitment and ownership.
For Ondo State, fulfilling this obligation has become a critical requirement for sustaining project implementation.
Akande disclosed that an earlier tranche of counterpart funding released by the state government was utilised for compensation payments to affected landowners, settlement of statutory obligations, taxes, levies and other project-related expenditures.
With those funds exhausted, the state sought additional financial support to maintain momentum and meet its obligations under the agreement with development partners.
The newly approved N8.5 billion counterpart fund, according to the Commissioner, is therefore expected to provide fresh impetus for project execution and reassure funding agencies of the state’s readiness to complete the scheme.
He noted that such financial commitments often influence the willingness of international partners to continue supporting infrastructure projects.
He said that by meeting its counterpart obligations, Ondo State strengthens its credibility and increases the likelihood of sustained donor confidence throughout the implementation period.
Measuring progress
Akande revealed that progress on the Owena Dam Water Supply Project has reached approximately 40 per cent completion noting that the current phase of work focuses heavily on the construction of the water treatment plant, regarded as the heart of the entire scheme saying “once completed, the treatment facility will process raw water from the dam and ensure it meets quality standards before distribution to homes, businesses and institutions.
“Beyond the treatment plant, another major component of the project involves the installation of an extensive transmission and distribution network,” he added.
He hinted that about 60 per cent of the overall project cost will be devoted to the procurement and installation of pipes of various sizes required to transport water from the treatment plant to consumers stating that contractors have reportedly begun the procurement process for these materials, signalling movement toward the next critical phase of implementation.
Reaching 1.3 million residents
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the project is its expected impact on the population.
Government estimates indicate that the completed water scheme will provide potable water to approximately 1.3 million people.
The beneficiaries according to the government official, will include residents of Akure North and Akure South Local Government Areas, as well as several adjoining communities that currently face varying degrees of water supply challenges.
For many households, access to treated water could mean a reduction in dependence on private boreholes, water vendors and unsafe water sources.
Improved access to potable water contributes significantly to disease prevention by reducing exposure to waterborne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoeal diseases.
The economic implications are equally important.
Reliable water supply supports small businesses, hospitality establishments, schools, healthcare facilities and industrial operations, all of which depend on consistent water availability.
Beyond Akure: Expanding water access across Ondo
While the Owena Dam project remains the flagship intervention, he insisted that efforts to improve water access extend beyond the capital city.
He revealed that the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has reportedly constructed more than 50 boreholes in communities across the Northern and Southern Senatorial Districts.
These projects he said are aimed at addressing the needs of rural populations that often lack access to centralised water infrastructure.
“In addition, the Ondo State Water Corporation continues to maintain and rehabilitate existing water schemes while planning future expansions.
“Similar interventions will eventually be replicated in other parts of the state as resources become available.
“The long-term objective, is to ensure equitable access to safe water regardless of geographical location,” he said.
Water and sanitation: Two sides of the same coin
He maintained that investments in water supply alone cannot achieve desired public health outcomes without corresponding improvements in sanitation.
Recognising this link, he explained that the Ministry has expanded its focus to include hygiene promotion and environmental sanitation initiatives.
According to him, plans are underway to provide public toilets in markets, schools and other public institutions across the state to reduce open defecation, improve hygiene practices and contribute to healthier communities.
The ministry he said is also collaborating with relevant agencies to tackle pollution and strengthen public awareness regarding sanitation and environmental health.
“These efforts align with broader national and international goals aimed at improving access to clean water and sanitation services,” he added.