By Ameh Gabriel
After years of enduring severe water scarcity, residents of Otukpo can finally breathe a sigh of relief as potable water supply has been restored from the Otobi Water Treatment Station.
The town had suffered a long and painful drought in water access following the collapse of the treatment facility, leaving households and businesses in distress. That situation has now changed through the intervention of Hon. Odoh Ugwu, Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Immediately after assuming office, Hon. Ugwu embarked on a fact-finding visit to the Otobi water source. He mobilised a team of top engineers to carry out technical assessments and design a workable recovery plan. His findings, presented to Governor Alia and the Benue State Executive Council, secured approval to re-engage the Chinese company initially contracted during the Ortom administration but which had abandoned the project despite being paid.
With the government clearing outstanding debts running into hundreds of millions of naira, and following Hon. Ugwu’s persistence, the company returned to site. In addition, the commissioner introduced a new strategy for proper reticulation of water across Otukpo, ensuring residents would not only get water restored but also enjoy efficient distribution.
Hon. Ugwu personally supervised the project, shuttling regularly between Makurdi, Otobi, and Otukpo to guarantee quality and adherence to standards. Despite initial skepticism and criticism from some quarters, the project has now been successfully completed, restoring hope and dignity to thousands of residents.
The achievement has been widely praised as a milestone in Governor Alia’s administration, with calls for Hon. Ugwu to be retained in the cabinet to continue driving impactful projects in the state.
By United Frontiers for Good Governance
