OUTRAGEOUS: Ortom spends N1.4bn on 559 boreholes in Benue

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Agbogbo Ode, yesterday disclosed that the Samuel Ortom administration spent over N1. 4 billion on water projects in the state in the last two years.

He spoke at the ministerial press briefing organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State Council, at the NUJ house in Makurdi.
Mr. Ode stated that out of the amount N900 million was spent on payment to the contractor for the resumption of water supply in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala.

“The State Government under the able leadership of Samuel Ortom has paid a whopping N500 million counterpart contribution to the implementation of Sanitation, Hygiene, and Water in Nigeria, SHAWN,” he stated.

Mr. Ode stated that 523 of the boreholes obtained under the project were hand pumps while 36 were motorized.

He gave a breakdown of the hand pumps as 130 each in Obi and Buruku, 163 in Katsina-Ala, 49 in Konshisha, 45 in Oju and eight in Tarka local government areas adding that 75 percent of the projects have been completed.

On the motorized boreholes he stated that six each were in Obi and Buruku, 16 in Ogbadibo, and eight in Katsina-Ala local government areas while 95 percent of the work had been completed.

He said there were ongoing rehabilitation of 300 boreholes in several local government areas as well as provision of numerous others through the intervention of the Australian government, and Water Aid.

The Permanent Secretary said part of the expenditure ensured support given to the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering water works for supply to parts of North Bank, resuscitation of water supply at Modern Market, Cabinet Office and Benue State University Teaching Hospital as well as maintenance of water pipes and procurement of chemicals.

“The government has recruited 750 casual staff and deployed them in street sweeping of Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala and Otukpo as well as enforcement of sanitation activities in Makurdi metropolis,” he stated.

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