The Member representing Aniocha North State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Emmanuel Nwaobi has pledged the support and cooperation of the people of Issele-Uku, towards the execution and speedy completion of the Issele-Uku Waterworks rehabilitation project being carried out by the United States Agency For International Development, USAID.
Hon. Nwaobi spoke on Saturday 17th July, during the formal handing over ceremony of the project to the Contractor, ADTECH Engineering, by Officials of USAID Nigeria, E-WASH, at the premises of the Urban Waterworks, Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.
Nwaobi who expressed joy over the ceremony said that the event marked the beginning of the success story that the residents of Issele-Uku have waited for; noting that for many years, the issue of perennial water shortage has remained a huge challenge to residents.
He said that with the official handing over of the project to the contractor, residents of Issele-Uku will remain hopeful towards seeing the completion of the project within a short period thereby bringing to an end the water problem in the town.
“So to God be the glory that today going forward, the people of Issele-Uku now have the hope that in the next four Months or there about, the Issue of the water problem will be a thing of the past.
“It is an issue I am so passionate about. I am sure the General Manager of the State Urban Water Board and officials of USAID will attest to that. Of course, I have been on the neck of the GM waterboard and would not allow him sleep because of this water issue.
“Like I did say to the GM and some officials of USAID when they came to pay me official visit in my office, that Issele-Uku indigenes, particularly the ones in Diaspora, even till this morning (Saturday Morning) do not believe that this story we are telling is true.
“But, I am happy that one of them in the Diaspora is here to witness live the handing over ceremony of the project to the contractor.
“I want to promise my people today, that what we are doing here is not just a ceremony, but the beginning of the processes that will bring us clean water in Issele-Uku, which will remain indelible in our hearts”. Hon Nwaobi said.
He commended the General Manager of the State Urban Water Board, Engr. Nosa Okoh and the Delta State Government for providing the enabling environment for USAID E-WASH to operate, even as he congratulated the Contractor for winning the contract to execute the project.
While assuring him of the cooperation and support of the people of Issele-Uku towards the execution of the project, Hon. Nwaobi admonished the Contractor to ensure that the water project is well done in accordance with contractual specification and agreement.
“First, I want to tell you that you are going to operate in a community that is very friendly. You are going to work in a community I can assure you will give you full cooperation to guarantee that you execute this job and possibly finish it even in less than four Months. But I want to admonish that we will not as well entertain any form of below standard work,” the Honourable member stated and further alerted that the contractor will have his office to contend with, “because, I am going to be on ground to see that you do exactly what is specified for the job.”
“We are not threatening you, but we are promising you that we will give you the maximum cooperation needed to ensure that this job is completed in good time, but we will also monitor to ensure that you do this job to standard to the benefit of our people,” Hon. Nwaobi presaged.
Also speaking, Prince Victor Egbune who represented the Issele-Uku community at the event said that the project remains critical to the people of the community, saying that a new chapter has been opened with the handing over of the project to the Contractor.
He promised that the Community will give them the much needed support to ensure that the project is delivered.
However, he called on the Contractor and officials of USAID E-WASH not to allow their coming to the event to be in vain.
“God will give you the enablement to carry on and complete the project,” Prince Egbune prayed.
Earlier in his brief, the Delta State Team Leader, E-WASH USAID, Engr. Adedayo Mark Adeyemi, Commended the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka, Obi of Issele-Uku and the people of Issele-Uku for keying into the project and said that the project is an inclusive one that will be completed within a period of 4 Months. He said that the cooperation of every stakeholder is needed for the timely completion of the project.
In his own remark, the Chairman of the contracting firm, ADTECH Engineering, Engr. Ike Ojimewa, assured that the project will be well executed in line with the contractual agreement and to specification, noting that he is at home in Issele-uku.
He expressed happiness over the assurances given to him by Hon. Nwaobi and the people of Issele-Uku and assured full work on the project will commence this week Thursday 22nd July, 2021, immediately after the public holiday, saying that the work will begin with clearing and digging along the 10km water pipe system.
Those who spoke to attest to the preparedness of the contractor to deliver on the project included the Director, Utility Support Fund USIAD E-WASH, Abubakar Sahabi, the MD/CEO ABFORT Associates Ltd, Akanni Abdulazeez who is the project Consultant, amongst others.
Highpoint at the event was the formal handing over of the project to the contractor by the project consultant before the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka, Obi of Issele-Uku, represented by the Oza of the Kingdom, Chief (Sir) Victor C. O. Isiekwenemgbu.
