By Ademola Adeleke
With a view to improving hygienic water supply to Ekiti populace, the State Government has presented license to the first set of accredited water service providers.
Flagging off the first phase of the presentation of license in Ado, the State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utility, Mr Bamidele Faparusi said that the initiative would lead to reduction in the high prevalence of water borne diseases emphasizing that the service providers are under the supervision of the Ekiti State Water and Sanitation Regulatory Agency.
Mr Faparusi said that with the latest arrangements, the coast was now clear for interested individuals to come and invest in the water and sanitation services provision in Ekiti State.
“As you are all aware, under the intervention programmes and projects, three (3) of our major dams namely, Ero, Egbe (Little Osse) and Ureje had been rehabilitated while small towns’ mini schemes such as ldo le, Erijiyan and Okemesi water schemes and other
borehole water supply system had been given a face lift.
“Again, under the intervention, 14 public sani-centres and several sanitation facilities had been constructed, All these are to increase access to safe water and good sanitation.The orientation of our people (Ekitis) has also been positively impacted as regards water supply and sanitation services.
“Moving forward from now, commerciallzation principles in the WASH services and Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that can lead to sustainability has now become the policy direction of the present administration, where there are gaps in the institutional framework arrangement to support the new order and direction, the state EXCO has ratified the 2020 WASH policy that will deal with that while the legal backing instrument(WASH Bill 2021) is at the Ekiti State House of Assembly awaiting passage.
The Utility Commissioner congratulated licensee on being the first set to be accredited to provide service in the sector.
The Secretary, Ekiti State Water and Sanitation Regulatory Agency, Mr Ayo Osalade in his welcome address said that the event was one of the gains of the reform in the water sector which would reposition Ekiti to the path of best practices.
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the present administration under the leadership of Dr John Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State for his commitment to reform particularly in the water sector of the state. The gains of the reform, part of which we are witnessing here today, is the establishment of water regulatory agency which will reposition Ekiti to the path of best practices.
“As you may be aware, going by the provisions in the WSS law 2013 and the WASH policy 2020, EK-WASRA is saddled with the responsibility of regulating the water sector in Ekiti State which has been left unregulated for years and ER-WASRA has therefore come alive with the aim of improving the quality of service, protection of the interest of service providers, the customers as well as the government. He added
Mr Osalade urged stakeholders to report any issue on water and sanitation services, assuring them that reported cases would be looked into.
In a goodwill message, the General Manager of Ekiti State Water corporation, Mrs Olabisi Agbeyo listed the advantages of establishing the new regulators to include, delivery of a strengthened approach to drinking water Regulations and help build public confidence in drinking water safety.
“The advantages of estabilishing new regulator among others includes to deliver a strengthened approach to drinking water regulation and have a Clear focus on drinking water safety, have an organizatonal structure that prioritise drinking water regulation, help build and maintain public confidence in drinking water safety, and build capability among drinking water suppliers by promoting education and training.
“Ekiti must be able to turn on household taps and drink water without fear of getting sick. We all care deeply about the quality of our water, this new dedicated drinking water regulator will help ensure pubic safety underpin Community welbeing and meet our people’s rightful expectations
“I will like to commend the Govermments decision of considering and embracing the
best global practices by creating the Regulatory Agency
The National President Association of Well drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners Mr Micheal Ale and the Rural water supply and Sanitation Agency representative, Mr Ayo Alegbeleye described the initiative as a New era in water services in Ekiti.
They were of the view that anything not measured would lose value, stressing the importance of the regulators to the supply of quality and quantity water to Ekiti Populace
Delivering a paper titled, the Relevance of Regulation in the Ekiti State Water Sector, the permanent secretary, Ministry of infrastructure and Public Utility, Mr Olumide Ajayi said the Regulation became necessary to increase Universal and equitable access to safe affordable and sustainable water services in the state.
