By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo
Enugwu otu/Mkpunando communities in Aguleri Anambra East local government Area, experienced a wave of wild jubilation as electricity was finally supplied to the town for the first time in the history.
Residents of the agrarian communities trooped out enmass in jubilation, with many of them describing the development as "miracle of the century"
The traditional rulers of the two communities; HRH Igwe Johnson Onyeaka Mbanefo and HRH Igwe Emmanuel Igbago Ejor along with their chiefs and subjects commended the administration of Governor CC Soludo for remembering the communities after so many years of living in darkness and also appreciated the Hon Commisioner, Engr Julius Melikam Chukwuemeka and his team for making the dream a reality..
The Hon. Commissioner for Power and Water resources told OMT news that his ministry installed 33kv line in the Community to ensure a steady power supply.
He added that the administration of Governor Soludo is ready to provide more dividends of democracy to the communities which were neglected for so many years by the past administrations.
An elderly man who introduced himself as Ogbuevi Anikpe told our correspondent that he did not believe that power supply would be possible in his life time. According to him, " if I die now, I will be happy as I will have a story to tell my ancestors".
Another resident, Iyom Ezeagbo said, " we have heard several stories in the past which never came through and even when we heard this one, we thought it was another fake promise until we saw light shining everywhere in Enugwu Otu yesterday, it was a big miracle".
In a similar development, there was another celebration galore all over Ameze community as the regional Water scheme is now extended to 20km.
The project which is part of the fulfilment of Governor Soludo's promise to end water scarcity in the area and the entire communities in Anambra State has concluded plans to extend the water pipes to residential homes.
The initial plan was to commence with a 5Km coverage but have now extended the coverage to additional 20km with over 50 fetching points across the region which comprises of Aguleri, Umuleri and Umuoba Anam.
Earlier, the contractor who is handling the water project, Barr Ken Chinwuba stated that the Otuocha Water Scheme, Aguleri can still be extended above the current coverage of 20km and requested the support of the communities to ensure the equipment are secured and safe for the project to be sustained. He specifically urged the residence to ensure that no body tampers with the equipment and promised that with the cooperation of the residents that the water can be subscribed by the private residents in no distance time.
The supervisor of the project, Mr Maduabuchi Nwalieji popularly known as Mmilioma Bosch took the press around the water collection point at Odene Eziagulu where a lot of sophisticated equipment were installed.
"The Scheme has a treatment plant with the capacity to treat over 10million litres of water per day"
"It has a distribution reservoir of 400cubic meters (100,000 gallons size) erected in front of Fr. Joseph Catholic Church, Aguleri. The total pipeline network laid is 5km around the 3towns (Aguleri, Umuleri and Umuoba Anam)".
"The Scheme also has a pontoon floating barge intake which will house the abstraction pumps mounted inside the river. It equally has a 500KVA generator set and Transformers respectively".
Looking at how fast the Anambra State Water Sector has developed in the recent times coupled with the high rate at which government has provided other WASH facilities across the communities, it is very pertinent to state unequivocally with a mind devoid of sentiments that Mr. Gov. Prof Charles Soludo is doing wonderfully well in the water sector of Anambra State through his Commissioner for power and water resources, Engr Julius Chukwuemeka Melikam.