Benue: Ending Water Scarcity, Building Resilience, Enhancing Sanitation

By Bridget Tikyaa

Water is life, no doubt. It is essential for the living, in driving agriculture ; ensuring food security, and vital to a functional ecosystem. It is imperative for economic growth, poverty reduction, and on the top scale of improved public health.

In Benue State, there have been genuine but tottering efforts to provide potable water to citizens. Over the years, projects have been abandoned because previous administrations did not give priority to this key sector. That is why a project as important as the Otobi/Otukpo , Katsina-Ala Water Works and the Naka Earth Dam Projects etc were abandoned for over 10 years, starving the people of the means to assuage their taste through access to potable clean water.

The abandoned Otobi/Otukpo Water Works, for instance, would have provided 15,000m3/day if its overhaul and refurbishing were completed.

The water supply source for the plant is surface water from River Otobi. The facility is crucial for providing clean water to the residents of Otukpo and surrounding areas.

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The contractor handling that project, a Chinese firm, CGC, had no choice but to pack up and leave as the then administration failed to pay for the work executed. And so it has been for 10 years, until His Excellency Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia stepped in, ordered a recall of the contractors, giving a deadline for the project’s completion, and most importantly, setting aside the funds, including the debt owed the contractors

This was done on March 20, 2025, during the State Executive Council meeting. The council approved the immediate payment of N1.5 billion to CGC, the Chinese company that constructed the Otobi-Otukpo and Katsina-Ala Water Works about 10 years ago. The council also directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change to invite CGC to commence the rehabilitation and reticulation to push water to every street and community in Otobi, Otukpo, and environs.

This essential intervention will no doubt arrest the biting challenge of accessing potable clean water in the area. It is a clear demonstration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s unwavering commitment and desire to bring to a close the continuous spate of water challenge being faced by Otukpo residents and Benue State at large.

In addition plans are underway for the resuscitation of the PCI- Otukpo Water Plant for full water supply in Otukpo.

In a warm assurance, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode said other communities in Benue State facing water challenges will get similar intervention of the state government as soon as possible.

Of course, there have been other interventions in the area of water supply to enhance hygiene and sanitation across the state.
In the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) , work is in progress under the supervision of Dr Stephen Terungwa Hwande for the Construction of a multi million naira Water Works Plant.

The Governor’s commitment to improving the hospital infrastructure reflects his dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery in Benue State,

The completion of the water works plant is expected to significantly improve water supply within the hospital, ensuring that both patients and staff have reliable access to clean water.

Meanwhile the rearticulated water system project from BSU and two Water Treatment units in the BSUTH have been completed all to enhance effective service delivery for doctors, patients and other workers/staff.

Also, Benue state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, had implemented water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in selected local government areas. The government released N700 million for the projects, which involved the drilling of boreholes and toilets to address open defecation.

Some of the beneficiaries include Ugbokpo in Apa local government, Ogbodo-Iyeche, Oju, and Ihugh in Vandeikya, Mbagwa community in Ushongo, and Adi-Etulo in Buruku, and Ugbor, Gwer East local government areas all from the 3 senatorial district of the state.

According to the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Ugwu Odoh, on an inspection tour in the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State said the target of government is for the state to attain open defecation free status. So far, 11 LGAs have attained the ODF status.

Odoh commended the quality of work done and urged the benefiting communities to take ownership of the projects and protect it from vandals. The resounding message is that Governor Alia has been fulfilling his campaign promises of prioritizing the needs of the people of Benue State.

The beneficiaries have been full of praises for the Governor’s intervention, for assuaging their taste, enhancing their livelihoods, and making life better for all. In Apa local government area, the council chairman, Comrade Adam Ochega Ogwola expressed gratitude to the state government for selecting the council area to benefit from the intervention, while a community leader in Ogbodo-Iyeche, Ukpe Omoga recounted the difficulties faced by the community due to water scarcity before the intervention by the government and expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for bringing succor to them.

For the General Manager of Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Tony Mkpen, their pledge to the people of Benue State is that they will not relent until every village has access to clean, safe and potable water.

Bridget Tikyaa is the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Communications Strategy