Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Wednesday inaugurated the Asejire Water Scheme project after years of epileptic water supply in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ajimobi expressed gladness that the water challenges being experienced in the state would finally be tackled.
He said the production capacity of the water treatment plants at the scheme had reduced to about eight per cent due to “unimaginable neglect by past administrations.”
“Indeed, the last time the plants witnessed installation and construction was 17 years ago as they were constructed and installed in 1972, 1991 and 1996 respectively,”
“Apart from the old age of the equipment, other factors that led to the decline of water production at the water scheme included lack of spare parts for maintenance and persistent interruption in power supply,” he said.
The governor said that an analysis of state-wide performance of the Water Corporation for the previous 10 years showed a result that was less than one per cent.
The analysis, he said, led to the award of contracts for the construction of Ayete Water Supply Scheme to supply water to Tapa, Idere and Ayete Communities.
Others are dedicated power line to Saki Water Supply Scheme and rehabilitation of dedicated power line to Ogbomoso Water Supply Scheme.
Ajimobi also promised to construct mini-water supply schemes in Okeho, Ago-Are and Oje-Owode/Tede.
Other communities to benefit are Sepeteri, Ogbooro, Otu, Iwa, Iganna/Iwere-Ile/Ayetu Igangan, Fiditi, Oluyole and Akufo.
He said government had accorded water supply priority in the 2014 budget so as to address past neglect.
Also speaking, Gabriel Oguntola, the General Manager of the State Water Corporation, said that the Asejire project was awarded six months ago by the state government.
He added that the project was part of efforts to increase the volume of potable water supply to residents of Ibadan metropolis.
A representative of the contractor, Stephannus Steiviou, said the plant would supply about 150 million litres of water to no fewer than four million people daily.
The project, which costs N262 million, has a total production capacity of 186,000 cubic meter of water per day, is the largest water production scheme in the state.