By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Relief is on the way for the people of the oil rich  riverine communities in Ondo State who have lack of potable water for years as the state government has inaugurated a N4b water scheme for them.

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko

With this development, the paradox of water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink would no more apply in the communities.

Generations in the oil rich communities have had to travel far in search of potable water to drink.

Consequently, the Governor Olusegun Mimiko government came up with the idea to build a water facility in Aboto, in Ilaje area to serve the beleagured communities.

Speaking during the  inauguration, which attracted paramount rulers from the oil rich communities, Mimiko said the water project  “ will terminate the previous order where rainfall, pond, streams or polluted rivers were the only sources of water for domestic use”.

While saying that the first phase of the project may not cut across all the communities,he assured that, with time, the water will be reticulated across the length and breadth of the council area.

The first phase, according to the governor is designed to extend from Aboto-Igbokoda and Aboto-Ugbonla axis.

Mimiko added that the second phase will cover the entire council area.

To actualize the project, two construction firms have been contracted to undertake the works. One of the firms is constructing two million gallons per day capacity water treatment facility within nine to 12months for N2.378billion.

The second firm is to construct the water pipeline for reticulation to the communities a t N1.790billion.

The Chairman of OSOPADEC, Pastor Johnson Ogunyemi, in his address at the occasion, said, with the project, the perennial problem of potable water will be a thing of the past.

Ogunyemi, who lauded the governor for adding value to mankind with the provision of basic amenity,  said it will put a stop to traveling long distance to get drinkable water. Speaking on behalf of the Aboto people their spokesman, Prince Ade Adeniyi,  lauded the Ondo government for sitting the project in their community.

The Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, and the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Lawrence Omowole,  said the project will wipe away generational hardship in the oil rich communities.

The monarchs, however, appealed to the state governor to construct a Mother and Child Hospital in the council area.

Mimiko promised that a Mother and Child Hospital would be constructed in the area before the expiration of his tenure next year.