Soludo's Promise to Complete Onitsha and Otuocha Water Schemes Broken as 12-Month Deadline Passes Without Progress

 Prof. Charles Soludo promised to complete the Onitsha and Otuocha Water Schemes within 12 months. Over 12 months have passed, and there is still no significant progress to show for it. The people of Anambra State, particularly those in Onitsha and Otuocha, have continued to suffer due to the absence of safe and clean water supply.

The Onitsha Water Scheme, initiated in 1981 with funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, was initially planned to be completed by 2020. However, due to delays and mismanagement, the project has yet to be completed. With a population of over 1.4 million, the people of Onitsha have been exposed to serious health risks, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery, resulting from the lack of access to clean, safe water. It is disheartening to see that despite the promise made by Soludo, the project remains incomplete, and the people of Onitsha continue to suffer.

The Otuocha Water Scheme, on the other hand, was co-funded by the Anambra State Government in partnership with the European Union's Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme. The scheme was inaugurated by Governor Willie Obiano in May 2020, with the aim of providing access to clean, safe water to over one million people living in Anambra East Local Government Area, including the communities of Aguleri, Umueri, and Umu-Oba Anam. However, there is no significant progress to show for it. The people of these communities have continued to suffer from the absence of clean and safe water supply.

The delay and mismanagement of the projects have led to the continued suffering of the people of Anambra State. It is essential for the government to prioritize the completion of these projects to ensure that the people have access to clean, safe water. The government must take responsibility for the delay and mismanagement of the projects and take necessary steps to ensure that they are completed without further delay. It is only by fulfilling these promises that the government can earn the trust of the people and improve the quality of life of its citizens.

This Promise is rated as “Broken”

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