2nd March, 2018
The Enugu State Government on Friday expressed determination to address water related challenges in urban and rural communities in some parts of the state.
The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Charles Egumgbe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that government had made adequate provision for water supply and reticulation in 2018 budget.
The commissioner said that when all the projects under the ministry and its agencies were completed, the effect on water supply and reticulation would be far-reaching in the state.
“I am optimistic that the Enugu State’s 2018 budget will address water availability challenge in some parts of the state.
“The monetary budget for water supply and reticulation in the state shows Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s focus on people-oriented projects will make much impact on the lives of the people.
“I will urge all residents of the state to keep supporting the state government’s plans and programmes since they are usually done in their best interest,’’ he said.
“The state’s 2018 budget of N103.56 billion, which had been christened ‘Budget of Sustainable Economic Growth’, had been signed into law by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Out of the N103.56 billion budget, the sum of N60.72 billion, representing 58.6 per cent of the budget, is for recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure stands at N42.85 billion, representing 41.4 per cent of the budget,’’ Egumgbe said.
The Ministry of Water Resources got N185.78 million while N75.5 million was allocated to Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in the 2018 budget.
The Enugu State Water Corporation got N318 million and N200 million was also allocated to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.