AKSG Records Major Gains in Water Resources, Sanitation

AKSG Records Major Gains in Water Resources, Sanitation

The Akwa Ibom State Government has recorded significant progress in water supply, sanitation and hygiene as the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation presented its scorecard under the ARISE Agenda.

Presenting the ministry’s achievements at the ongoing ministerial briefing at Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Ubuo Effiong Ubuo, Ph.D., said the administration of Governor Umo Eno was committed to building a sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) system through policy reforms, infrastructure development, community participation and strategic partnerships.

Ubuo said the ministry had strengthened the sector’s policy framework through the Akwa Ibom WASH Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and the roadmap towards achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by 2030.

He identified the Water Users Association Law, recently assented to by Governor Umo Eno, as a major milestone that would enhance community participation in the management of water and irrigation facilities and position the State to benefit from the Federal Government’s Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project.

The Commissioner also disclosed that the ministry, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Water Company, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the African Development Bank, had developed a Water Supply and Sanitation Investment and Master Plan to guide short, medium and long-term investments in the sector.

According to him, 12 water schemes had been completed and handed over to communities in Ini, Etim Ekpo, Eket, Uruan, Nsit Ubium, Oron, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Itu, Ukanafun, Eastern Obolo and Obot Akara Local Government Areas.

He further announced that preparations had been completed for the rollout of the 369 Ward Water Project, which is designed to provide every ward in the State with a solar-powered Braithwaite tank water scheme.

Ubuo said the project was being implemented through the collaboration of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Akwa Ibom Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (AK-RUWATSAN), Golden Initiative For All and the Interministerial Direct Labour Committee, with technical preparations and preliminary site selection already completed.

On water quality, the Commissioner said AK-RUWATSAN was collaborating with Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre on an in-line chlorination pilot project covering about 200 water facilities across Uyo, Mbo, Oron, Itu, Esit Eket and Eket Local Government Areas.

He added that 42 community volunteers had been trained as Safe Water Promoters and Pump Operators as part of efforts to improve water safety and strengthen community management of water facilities.

Ubuo said the ministry had also intensified sanitation and hygiene interventions, including the distribution of water purification tablets, menstrual hygiene kits and other hygiene materials to communities in Mbo, Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas.

Highlighting measurable outcomes, the Commissioner said community-based WASH interventions had increased improved water-source coverage from 34.8 per cent to 78.5 per cent, improved sanitation from 29.3 per cent to 71.2 per cent, handwashing with soap from 47.5 per cent to 82.6 per cent and household water treatment from 24.7 per cent to 69.4 per cent.

He further reported a decline in water-borne diseases, with diarrhoea dropping from 54.3 per cent to 23.8 per cent, typhoid from 49.6 per cent to 19.2 per cent and cholera from 18.5 per cent to 5.6 per cent.

The Commissioner said the ministry would continue to expand access to safe water, strengthen sanitation and hygiene, improve monitoring and maintenance, deepen community ownership, attract investment partnerships and advance urban water reforms.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the initiative was introduced by the administration of Governor Umo Eno to ensure that members of the press and the public were kept abreast of the activities, programmes and achievements of government.

He added that the engagement was also a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.

On his part, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh, thanked members of the press for their continued partnership and support in the development and progress of Akwa Ibom State.

He appreciated their contributions to the state’s growth and expressed confidence that the state would continue to rise, urging them to sustain their support and partnership with the government.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, represented by the Union’s Vice Chairman, Comrade Margaret Moore, commended the government for providing verifiable data to support accurate reportage and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to objective and responsible journalism.

The briefing was attended by the Commissioner for Housing, Rt. Hon. Dr. Henry Archibong, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Dr. Ubong Inyang, members of the press and other government officials.

Inform & Public Relations Unit
MWRS
6/10/2026