The Ogun State Water Corporation has been lauded by the state’s House of Assembly for putting in place strategies meant to enhance its internally generated revenue (IGR) just as it has consistently ensure increased access to portable water in the state in spite of prevailing economic downturn in the country.
The State House of Assembly Committee on Energy, Water Resources and Rural Development led by Hon. Rasaq Oduntan, who was represented by Israel Jolaoso gave the remarks during the visit of the Committee to the Corporation to assess its performance in relations to its approved 2017 budgetary estimate.
Oduntan in company of other members including Honourables Akanbi Bankole, Tunde Sanusi and Bowale Solaja equally lauded the corporation for its ingenuity at improving on its revenue; tasking them not to rest on their oars at meeting the yearnings and expectation of the residents of the State as well as widening their revenue base.
Earlier in her presentation, the General Manager of the Corporation, Engr. Monsurat Agboola said the agency had during the period under review ensured effective management of treatment chemicals to keep the water schemes running; assuring that the agency would redouble its efforts at providing portable water for the teeming populace.
Agboola, added that the agency generated over N124M as revenue, just as it embarked on replacement of pipes that gave way for the construction of roads in some parts of the State.
In another development, due to the commitment of the State to the promotion of environmental sanitation personal hygiene, Ogun State has been picked along with its Kano counterpart to participate in the expanded pilot programme water sanitation and hygiene to be co-sponsored through counterpart funding by Federal Government, State and an international donor.
The Programme which is being anchored by Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSAN), according to the Permanent Secretary, Rev. Gbele Olugbebi, would involve sinking of boreholes and construction of toilets geared towards making the State achieve Open Defecation Free by the year 2030.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oduntan challenged the Ministry to reposition its various plans and programmes towards engendering more rural development, so as to continually address Rural-Urban migration, while enjoining the Ministry to set machineries in motion to further provide more employment opportunities for the people at the grassroots.
Packaged by Azeez Ayansola
