By Adegbaju Temitope
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has intensified efforts to restore regular pipe-borne water supply across seven local government areas of the state as the first batch of ductile iron pipes and other critical equipment for the rehabilitation of the Owena Multipurpose Dam Water Treatment Plant and expansion of Akure’s urban water infrastructure arrived.
The governor, who inspected the consignment delivered by CGC Nigeria Limited at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, on Wednesday, charged the contractor to adhere strictly to approved technical specifications and ensure timely completion of the project.
The equipment, procured from China, is meant for the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project and the Akure Urban Water Supply Project, which involve the rehabilitation of the Owena water treatment plant, construction of an 800mm ductile iron transmission pipeline to Akure, a new reservoir at Oke Aro, expansion of distribution networks and rehabilitation of three township reservoirs at Okebola.
Aiyedatiwa described the arrival of the materials as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to provide sustainable access to potable water, insisting that the project must be completed without unnecessary delays.
He said the water scheme was among the promises made during his election campaign, which his administration was determined to fulfil.
“We want to deliver this as soon as possible. Our time here is tenured. I want to deliver a legacy project for our people, based on the promises we made during our election campaign.
“We don’t want to make these promises without fulfilment. And this is one of the fulfilments of those promises, by providing healthy, clean, pipe-borne water for our people to drink,” the governor said.
He recalled that the project was flagged off at the Owena Multipurpose Dam on December 9, 2025, describing the arrival of the equipment as evidence of his administration’s determination to translate its promises into tangible projects.
The governor explained that the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project and the Akure Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project were being implemented by the Ondo State Water Corporation with support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
According to him, the projects are designed to distribute treated water from the Owena Multipurpose Dam, expand access to safe drinking water in selected areas of Akure, strengthen the financial sustainability of water services and improve governance in the sector.
The consignment comprises valves, couplings, discharge machinery, mixers, backwash pumps, vacuum ventilators and ductile iron pipes.
Aiyedatiwa said the equipment would support water treatment operations and the rehabilitation of critical mechanical and hydraulic systems, while the pipes, valves and couplings would facilitate the transmission of treated water from the Owena plant to service reservoirs in Akure.
He commended the Ondo State Water Corporation, the Project Implementation Unit, AFD, CGC Nigeria Limited and the project consultants, SGI, as well as engineers and technical personnel involved in the scheme.
The governor stressed that access to potable water remained essential to public health, business growth, community development and the general wellbeing of residents.
He consequently directed CGC Nigeria Limited to ensure proper handling, installation and deployment of the equipment in accordance with approved technical specifications, while urging project authorities to maintain effective supervision and enforce quality, safety and accountability standards.
“Our ultimate objective is not merely to receive equipment or complete construction works. It is to ensure that the people of Ondo State enjoy improved access to reliable and sustainable potable water,” he said.
Earlier, the Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Mrs Victoria Adetoye, said the arrival of the pipes had dispelled doubts about the feasibility of the project.
She commended the governor’s commitment to the water sector and expressed optimism that residents of the benefiting communities would have access to water in their homes by the same period next year.
Adetoye disclosed that the first phase of the project would cover six local government areas in the Central Senatorial District and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo in the Southern Senatorial District, bringing the number of benefiting councils to seven.
“Majority of people thought this was impossible. But here we are witnessing it live. Since your inception, sir, you promised that your government would be different. And we can see it live.
“By this time next year, by God’s grace, every one of us will be taking water in our own abode,” she said.
The Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Limited, Wang Peng, expressed delight at the arrival of the first batch of pipes and thanked the state government and the water sector team for their support.
He assured the government that the company would deliver the project within the stipulated schedule and in line with the required quality standards.
Those present at the inspection included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Mr Muyiwa Ogunyemi; Director-General of OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson; and other political appointees.
