BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—THE rehabilitation programme of the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme in Anambra State, with contract value of N1.8 billion, being handled by Peterson Candy International of South Africa is to be completed in March next year.

The three major water intakes located in MCC Onitsha, Army Barracks and Nkisi, with a combined storage capacity of 135,000 cubic liters, have been refurbished and water being pumped into them such that residents of Army Barracks, Awka road and some parts of Onitsha and Ogbaru are already getting pipe borne water in their homes.

The Anambra State commissioner for public utilities and water supply, Chief Emeka Nwankwu said in an interview in Onitsha that ultimately, the main source of water supply to the water scheme would be Ogbunike Lake in Oyi local government area.

He said that as soon as the equipment ordered for the project arrives, work would speed up to enable the contractors meet the completion deadline.

He said: “The state government has secured a letter of credit for $700 million for the procurement of equipment for the project. The manufacturers of the equipment are set to import the equipment into Nigeria and hopefully, they will come into the country by December this year.

“Presently, the contractors are doing search and fix to ensure that all the broken down pipes and leaking ones are properly fixed before the commencement of the installation of the equipment.”