The Cross River Government says it will diligently manage and maintain the 94 million Euro Water and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase 11 (WSSSRP 11) project in the state.
Mr Elemi Etowa, the Commissioner for Water Resources gave the assurances Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the Water and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase 11 (WSSSRP 11) project inauguration in Calabar. The state government also assured stakeholders and donor partners of its resolve to ensure of the WSSSRP 11 impact positively on residents and benefiting communities.
“I want to assure the State Project Steering Committee, EU, UNICEF and other stakeholders that we are going to work assiduously to ensure that you are not disappointed.
“Let me also mention to you that as a team we are managing the World Bank projects in the state to the tune of about 200 million US Dollars and we have not disappointed.
“We will do our best to reform the water sector in cross River and will forward the final work plan for the project to the National Planning Commission
The occasion was also used to mark the formal flag off of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) project in Cross River.
Speaking earlier Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River said that the WSSSRP 11 would address the challenges encountered in WSSSRP 1 in the state.
Imoke said some of the challenges included delays in the payment of counterpart contributions by some partners in the programme and the lack of sustainability.
“Issues of design concept, project sizes, running cost, financial contributions and similar factors which emanated in the last five years should be regarded as lessons learnt.
“ I hope the 10th EDF will address this and other related issues,’’ he said.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Efiok Cobham, Imoke commended the European Union (EU) and UNICEF for choosing Cross River for the project.
“The occasion affords us the opportunity to express our resolve to continue to work in close collaboration with our development partners, the EU and UNICEF in particular towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals in 2015,’’ he said.
Imoke also inaugurated the WSSSRP 11 State Project Steering Committee with the Commissioner for Water Resources as Chairman.
The project was designed to consolidate on the gains of the WSSSRP 1 and to also address the weaknesses experienced in the programme.
The first phase of the programme was implemented in five Local Government Areas: Boki, Etung, Obubra, Odukpani and Yakurr.
Etowa told journalists that the programme included Policy and Institutional reforms, Urban, Small-Towns and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation works.
“This second phase shall consolidate on policy and institutional reforms, as well as establish new water supply and sanitation infrastructure in 10 small towns of two self-selected local government areas (Boki and Yakurr).
“Borun/Njua/Okubushuyu, Orimekpang, Okundi, Wula and Katchan in Boki and Agoi Ibami, Ago Ekpo, Ekom Agoi, Okem and Assiga Old Town in Yakurr,’’ he said.
The project Consultant, Mr Adebayo Ajao, also said that the total project package was 94 million Euro (N1.94 billion) with EDF contributing 80 million Euro (N1.65 billion).
“The six focal states, the participating local government areas and the benefiting communities will contribute 13 million Euros ( N269 million), while UNICEF contributes 1 million Euro,’’ he said.
Ajao said that the project was being implemented in two phases of two years, adding that, other states participating in the programme include: Anambra, Osun, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe.
The representative of the National Planning Commission, Mr John Akuse, said that the commission had identified Cross River and Anambra as best performing states in the implementation of the project in Nigeria.