The Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi while handing over the project said the State Government acceded to the request of the Honourable Member of the State House of Assembly representing the area, Hon. Segun Olulade to rehabilitate the two projects which have been abandoned for over 20 years In order to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to its rural communities and reduce incidence of water borne and water related diseases as well as loss of man-hour in search of potable water.
He however noted that the people too have a role to play in ensuring the sustainability of the projects.
Ojelabi implored the Oba of Ejirin, the Baale of Sekungba and the CDAs of the two communities as well as the entire people to take ownership of the projects and not to see it as free projects so as not to suffer the same fate as they did in the past.
He disclosed that while the State Government will continue to maintain the projects for the next two years the communities should understudy the managers as well as constitute committees to work out the modalities for its sustainability.
He urged the communities not to hesitate in reporting to the Ministry through the phone numbers of key officers that will be on the wall of the projects if the managers are not performing optimally.
Hon. Ojelabi also charged the people to seize the opportunity of the vast land in their possession and use it for farming instead of looking for white collar job in the cities. He noted that the Ministry will be willing to partner with them and provide the where withal for them for successful farming.
The Elejinrin of Ejirin, Land, Oba Rafiu Ishola Balogun while commending the Ministry for coming to their rescue after the project had been abandoned for so long went down memory lane to disclose that the project which was first constructed in 1962 during the Ladoke Akintola regime and rehabilitated in 1989 had been abandoned for so long that all hope has been lost on its rehabilitation.
He disclosed that even when some team of Engineers were sent in 2004 when the idea of moving Okobaba plank traders to Ejirin was first conceived, the engineers were not able to make any head way.
The Honourable member of the State House of Assembly representing Epe II, Hon. Segun Olulade said the quick response of the Ministry to his call for the rehabilitation which is the yearning of the community that he represents shows the beauty of good governance that Lagos State is noted for.
He commended specially the team of Engineers headed by Engr. Adisa Yinusa from the Ministry who supervised the two projects and several other projects under his jurisdiction for their commitment and dedication to quality job delivery.
Olulade assured the State Government that the Water projects would be well maintained by his people and workers that the communities would recommend to work in the water schemes would be dedicated and honest people.
The Baale of Sekungba, High Chief Solomon Omotayo also thanked the State Government through the Ministry for the Micro Water Scheme rehabilitation but also requested for more government presence in the community.
The Head of Rural Water and Sanitation in the Ministry of Rural Development Engr. Adisa Yinusa disclosed that the two projects were constructed about 24 years ago and handed over to the Local Government for management towards ensuring constant potable water supply to the communities were not managed well and were abandoned after few years of operation until the State Government headed by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola graciously approved their rehabilitation in order to extend dividend of democracy to the two communities.
Yinusa disclosed that while the Sekungba Micro Water Scheme can deliver 66,000 litres of water per run and is capable of supplying 198,000 litres of water per day for 3 runs, the Ejinrin Micro Water Schemes will deliver 45,000 litres water per run and is capable of supply 135,000 litres per day for 3 runs.
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