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In his manifesto, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State promised to complete the Onitsha and Otuocha water schemes within his first year in office. This promise was hailed as a bold step toward ending decades of water scarcity in some of the state’s most densely populated areas.
The Onitsha Water Scheme, initiated in 1981 with funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, was designed to serve a population of over 1.4 million. Similarly, the Otuocha Water Scheme, co-funded by the Anambra State Government and the European Union, aimed to benefit over one million residents in Anambra East Local Government Area. These projects were critical to addressing the long-standing issue of water scarcity in these communities.
As part of our commitment to holding public officeholders accountable through our Promise Tracker initiative, Advokc Foundation flagged this promise as a high-priority promise due to its significant socio-economic importance. Access to clean water is not just a basic necessity, it is a human right.
However, one year after Governor Soludo’s inauguration, and while other promises began to take shape, no visible progress had been made on the Onitsha and Otuocha water projects. The affected communities continued to rely on unreliable and often unhygienic sources for their daily water needs.
In response, Advokc sprang into action through a multi-layered advocacy campaign:
Reminder Letters: We sent formal reminder letters to the Anambra State Government, reiterating the urgency of the promise and the toll its delay had on residents.
Online Advocacy Campaign: We launched a digital campaign titled #SoludoFixAnambraWater, tagging the Governor and key government bodies across platforms, raising awareness on the issue.
Change.org Petition: We mobilized citizens through a Change.org petition, which quickly gained traction. Over 2,000 concerned Anambrarians and supporters from across the country signed and shared it, demanding immediate action.
Though the 12-month deadline had passed, the persistent pressure from citizens and civil society groups, including our advocacy efforts, eventually paid off. In early 2024, the Anambra State Government announced the commencement of work on both the Onitsha and Otuocha water schemes.
Today, over 2 million people in these areas now enjoy consistent access to clean, potable water, improving public health, easing the burden on women and children who previously walked long distances, and restoring faith in democratic accountability. This success story is more than just a fulfilled campaign promise. It is a powerful demonstration of how citizen engagement and advocacy can drive real, lasting change.