The Benue State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), has executed water, sanitation and hygiene projects in selected local government areas to provide basic amenities for rural dwellers.
The projects include toilet facilities and boreholes at Ugbokpo main market in Apa, Ogbodo-Iyeche in Oju, Ihugh in Vandeikya, Mbagwa Community in Ushongo, Adi-Etulo in Buruku and Ugbor in Gwer East LGAs.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Ugwu Odoh, led a team from Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA) on an inspection tour on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Odoh said that state government released the sum of ₦700 million as a counterpart fund for the implementation of the projects.
The commissioner stated that the inspection tour was to ensure that contractors handling the projects adhered to specifications.
Odoh pointed out that the target of the government was for the whole state to attain an open defecation-free (ODF) status, saying that 11 LGAs had already been certified ODF.
Odoh reminded the benefiting communities that Gov. Hyacinth Alia was fulfilling his campaign promises of prioritising their basic needs, urging them to take ownership of the projects and protect them from vandalisation.
The General Manager of BERWASSA, Mr. Tony Mkpen, thanked the governor for his relentless efforts and their partners, UNICEF, for safeguarding the lives of rural dwellers with basic amenities.
In Apa local government area, the council chairman, Mr. Adam Ogwola, expressed gratitude to the state government for selecting the council area to benefit from the intervention.
The Ogbodo-Iyeche community leader, Mr. Ukpe Omoga, decried the difficulty faced by people of the community due to water scarcity before the intervention and appreciated the governor for bringing succour to them.
By Onyeje Abutu-Joel