The Governor's uncommon passion to turn things around in the water sector is commendable as it is adjudged to be one the crucial measures towards addressing the challenges of the water sector over several decades as the sector, inadvertently had suffered setback in the past administrations. Thus, the initiative is strategically anchored on the implementation of the the legal frame work, known to be the water law which Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had long, accented to following it's smooth passage by the State House of Assembly.
Ever since the Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta, has hit the ground running with the familiarization visits to the various water infrastructure across the state, the signs have become strongly glaring that the water sector which had been a mirage, owing to the perennial neglect it suffered in the past with lack of attention, would work again.
Such visits to the water facilities, no doubt afforded the Honourable Commissioner the opportunity to appraise the status of the water projects with a view to devising mechanism to tackle the issues militating against the sector head on so as to assuade the sufferings of Deltans who again, often than not find it difficult if not impossible to access potable water.
The commitment of the Commissioner to leave an endearing legacies for the water sector is gradually yielding results. For instance, the Asaba regional water scheme to a great extent, is functional with the installation of a 33KVA transformer to boost electricity generation, in adherence with the facts that virtually all water facilities require consistent power supply for pumping except few that may be solar powered and a number of the water points having meters .
Apart from the installation of the 33KVA transformer to accelerate water distribution in the state capital, Ogwuashi -Uku water project is receiving attention with the ongoing water pipelines extension within the town. Ughelli regional water scheme and that of Bomadi are not left out as government has extended it's attention to them in order for the projects to serve the beneficiaries effectively. For the Warri -Effurun water scheme, that some people claim to have been abandoned, the administration of Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa , in its appreciation of the intended impacts of the scheme would serve for not only the residents of Uwvie, and Warri South but Udu Local Government Areas, wholeheartedly intervened on the project.
Govenor Okowa's intervention on the Warri -Effurun regional water project, facilitated the concessioning of the scheme such that the Public Private Participation (PPP) approach is aimed at ensuring that the infrastructure function optimally in line with its intended purpose of serving the people effectively and efficiently.
Another landmark achievement of the new Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta is the laying of the 5km water pipelines in several towns across the state. The state government also succeeded in constructing a water borehole at the orientation camp of the National Youths Service Corps(NYSC), Issele-Uku, in addition to its dogged efforts to reactivate the Issele-Uku regional water scheme. At Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area, the state government in collaboration with the Niger Delta Support Programme of the European Union erected functional solar-powered water schemes.
It could be recalled that the former Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Sir (Chief) Fidelis Tilije who stopped at noithing to ensure that the water sector is rejuvinated and strengthened. He was able to pursue the institutionalisation of the water law policies by ensuring it's gets the legal backing from the State House of Assembly in accordance with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) guidelines in its partnership with the state government to give the sector a boost by complementing the efforts of the Okowa led administration in building a stronger Delta in the water sector.
Considering the multiplier effects of the Ogwuashi -Uku Dam and the gains Deltans , particularly residents of the area and Ibusa inclusive, would derive from the facility, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta on many occasions, appealed to the Buhari led federal government not to nurse the intention of handing over the Dam to the state now as it has not been completed if the essence of establishing it to be achieved which is to serve as a vehicle to unravel the unabated water problems in the area as well generate 1.5 mega watts of electricity when the turbines are in place.
The USAID programme is intended to improve water sector in the state.
The water law, a platform through which the USAID is expected to impact on the facilities' quality services, carried out a survey to evaluate the actual condition of the galaxy of the water infrastructure in the state. Through the survey, USAID must have established what needed to be put in place to enable the project function effectively in tandem with the international best practices.
In a bid to ensure that the desired results are achieved, USAID officials in the state led by its team leader Mr. Marks Adeyemi has been carrying our stakeholders advocacies. Such advocacies include the civil society organisations (CSOs), community leaders, water consumers associations, officials of the State Ministry of Water Resources, other line ministries and the Delta State Urban Water Corporation under the leadership a veteran administrator and sagacious /dogged Engineer, Engr. Nosa Okoh among other critical stakeholders .
To a great extent , there is need for the service providers that is water service providers to articulate measures to ensure that the water that would be distributed to the public meet certain laid down standard. And this could only be realised through the instrumentality of the Water Regulatory Unit. Through the importance of other forum like, consumers forum and the inputs of the civil society organisations as highlighted early could not be over-emphasised.
According to a proposed Blue print for the State Regulatory Unit, the fundamental assignment of the body in the context of the water sector is to set, monitor and enforce service standards as well as balance economic interests of all stakeholders including the service providers, water consumers and financing institutions.
The roles and responsibilities of the Water Regulatory Unit include ensuring the rights and obligations of the service providers in such areas as customers service standard that include coverage level and quality service through monitoring and evaluation of service providers, conduct studies on tariff setting, develop mechanism of setting tariffs and regulate tariffs charged to consumers, issue licences to public water service providers and vet and regulate all on-coming private sector participation contracts in the sector.
Other tasks before the Water Regulatory Unit bothers on mediating between service providers and consumers, investigate complaints against service providers, advise governments ,establish and enforce standards , coordinate with relevant department of the Ministry of Health to ensure quality standards compliance, dissemination of information to the public and develop guidelines for supervision of sector institutions as well as vet and monitor the implementation of service providers ' strategic plan.
The blue print guiding the operations of the Water Regulatory Unit also empowers it to promote state water law and policies and ensure optimal utilization of resources for the provision of prescribed water services. Also, it mandates the Unit, to ensure that the prices charged by the water service providers are sufficient to allow the water service providers to finance their activities and allow for reasonable earnings for efficient operations.
Similarly, it is designed to receive complaints and resolve disputes between customers and water service providers in order to ensure that regulatory decision-making has regard to all relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislations applying to the water sector and maximize access to prescribed water services by promoting and facilitating consumers connection to distribution systems in both rural and urban areas in order to ensure that an adequate supply of water is available to customers and ensure that customers to customers and ensure that customers benefit from any gain from increased competition including efficiency.
The Delta State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta, on September 18, 2019 at the Hotel Benizia, Asaba, inaugurated three various committees comprising the Reforms Champion Team, Water Consumers Forum and a-7 man Water Regulatory Unit .
While inaugurating the various committees , the State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta, a PhD holder in criminal law and former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly as well as ex-while Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Lands and Legislative matters, urged the chairmen and members of tripartite committees to justify the confidence reposed in them through more commitment and purposeful approach to their assignments so as to strongly actualise the vision of Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa's determination to provide sustainable and clean water for the teeming population of the state.
The Water Resources Commissioner, who lauded the initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other international organisations for partnering with the Okowa -led administration's rare determination to boost the water sector in the state. He said that the USAID -E WASH programme was aimed at improving the quality of water supply in the state.
Okonta stated that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's demonstration of building a stronger Delta in the water sector, he (Governor) declared state of emergency on WASH, adding that he had also inaugurated the Inter-ministerial Committee on WASH in which the governor chairs. The Commissioner maintained that the Asaba regional water project was functional with the installation of a 33KVA transformer to enhance electricity generation, saying that the Ogwuashi -Uku and Bomodi water schemes had been updated while reiterating that efforts had been intensified to bring the Warri -Effurun water project to see the light of the day so that residents in Uwvie, Warri South and Udu Local Government Areas could maximise the benefits of the infrastructure.
The renowned law maker, now Commissioner stated that water is life considering it's importance to health, enjoined all stakeholders to take the issues concerning water seriously. Rt. Hon. Okonta further disclosed that 5km pipelines in many towns in the state would be constructed to facilitate water distribution to the various households in the state.
Recalling that one of the greatest issues plaguing the water sector is the destruction of the water facilities, which has become a re-occurring decimal. Against this backdrop, the Water Resources Commissioner appealed to all stakeholders, especially community leaders to prevail on their people to protect abs guide the infrastructures from unnecessary vandalism.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr(Mrs) Felicia Adun urged the members of the different committees to bring their wealth of experience to bear towards contributing modestly to the improvement of the water sector, adding that they should consider their selection as an opportunity to put in their utmost best , even as she said that they chosen based on their track record and merit.
Responding on behalf of the Water Regulatory Unit, the chairman , Engr. Henry Idama pledged the committee's avowed commitment towards discharging it's assignment effectively in line with their terms of reference as well as the operational guidelines establishing it, stressing that the recognition would spur the members of the Unit to break more grounds in the water sector.. Chairmen of other committees also said that they would contribute meaningfully to improving the quality of service delivery in the water sector.
Photo below : Delta State for Water Resources Development, Rt. Hon. Martin Okonta, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr(Mrs) Felicia Adun and the Chairman of the Water Regulatory Unit, Engr. Henry Idama as well as other members during their inauguration in Asaba.
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