The neglected Oji River water station popularly known as ‘Oji wonderful water’
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Amidst a water station with over 99.9 percent natural purity, the residents of Oji River Urban area and nearby communities are suffering acute water shortage.
The cost of supply by commercial water tankers for water sourced from Oji River water station, popularly known as “Oji wonderful water has skyrocketed up to N10,000 per a tank of two thousand (2,000}:litres or thereabout, basically due to running cost on the side of the private entrepreneurs,who own and operate the commercial tankers as their enterprise.
Originally, water powered from the Oji wonderful water station established by the British colonial administration were reticulated to several parts of Oji town and beyond,including Oji GRA quarters at Mile two,Dodo Oji River, the Mile one staff quarters,the General hospital Oji River, the NEPA quarters,etc.
Unfortunately, abandonment and neglect by the various alms of government in the past four decades, affected all operations at the pumping station negatively.
The implication is that reticulation to the various parts of increasing Oji Urban area has remained elusive. The residents now depend at the mercy of commercial water tankers and spirited individuals, who sunk borehole around their premises for water.
The irony of it all is the fact that thousands of litres of water which naturally with heavy pressure boosts out from the Oji wonderful water station on daily basis,wastes away as run off into the river. The commercial water tankers only fetches an infinitessimal percentage of it to sell to the public.
The current pains of water scarcity in the midst of a major source of water with overwhelming purity, formed the major demand of stakeholders from Oji River East Development Center, during their courtesy visit to the current executive chairman of Oji River local government area,Hon. Greg.Anyaegbudike,on Friday, December 13-
Oji River East Development Center comprises of Achi Agu ward one, Achi Agu ward two,Oji Urban ward three,Oji Urban ward four and Ugwuoba.
Some of the various stakeholders who spoke during their courtesy visit to Hon. Anyaegbuike at the Council headquarters on Friday, December 13, assured to give him the necessary support to succeed in his development agenda for Oji River local government area,but the issue of restoration of pipe borne water sourced from Oji wonderful water station was paramount in their demand, They said it will help in solving the water scarcity in the Urban town and nearby communities.
Hon. David Exe Ochiabutor informed that the water reservoirs which facilitated the reticulation and distribution of water to the Town are still standing strong at GRA Mile 2 and Uzondu wards, Dodo, Oji River. Hon. Mrs Eunice Uzoigwe emphasized that acute shortage of water constitutes a pain in the neck of the residents unlike what was obtained in the town, many decades ago when tap water sourced from Oji wonderful water station satisfied the water needs of the residents.
Corroborating, Dr McGinger Ibeneme lamented the neglect and abandonment of Oji River by the government, stating that under development has become the bane of Oji River Town.
According to him, Oji River used to be a township where water and other ocisl amenities were available and neccessitsted many private and public industries to have flourished in the town.
He lamented that while other towns initially on same place with Oji River like Awka and 9th Mile are witnessing tremendous development,Oji River is on the decline.
He disclosed that he remains in the opposition party with a principle to endear good governance and tasked Hon.Anyaegbudike to make a difference from previous governance enthroned by PDP in Oji River local government.
He said further that the era of politicking is over but ensuring good governance is the order of the day. To that extent,he joined in the courtesy visit to the elected chairman,Hon Greg.Anyaegufike by his immediate constituency,Oji River East Development Center.
They counted the efforts of Hon.Toby Okechukwu, the immediate past House of Representatives membe of Aninri,Awgu and Oji River federal constituency as an alternative measure which did not satisfy the demand of the residents.
Responding, the Oji River local government chairman,Hon. Greg.Anyaegbudike, revealed that his administration is working out a master plan for development of Oji River in the next 30 years.
He disclosed that his administration has scheduled an economic summit to brainstorm on ideas of development, to hold on Sundsy, January 5,2025. He stressed that his administration has adopted the strategy of partnership as a means of achieving the development agenda of his administration and satisfying the zeal by various communities for development.
Many Residents of Oji Urban residents, including citizens of Ahani Achi,the host community who aired their views on the issue of Water from Oji water station, said they are willing to pay if extended to them after reactivation of the reticulation.
The current Enugu state government adminidtration led by Governor Peter Mbah has a blue print of investing in the Oji River wonderful water station to satisfy the water needs of the residents and nearby communities, on satisfaction of water needs of residents of Enugu metropolis.The state government has plans of generating additional volumes of litres of water from Oji River water station and 9th Mile water stations to boost supply into Enugu metropolis.
