The FCT Water Board, an agency saddled with the responsibility for the provision of water to the generality of its residents, has lamented its inability to recover N 1.8 billion from the utility users due to lack of legal framework.
The agency made this known to the media, while taking its turn in the on-going show of administration’s score card in commemorating two years in office of the present administration of Mallam Mohammed Bello.
The Acting Director of the FCT water Board Engineer A Aliyu Nahuche, stated that his office since assumption of office three weeks ago, was met with a huge unrecovered
amount of money piled up and waiting for nobody in particular due to un availability of legal framework to punish offenders.
According to the new helmsman, accumulated amount of unpaid utility bill by corporate entities, Government establishments as well as individual residents, amounts to N1.8billion recorded for the year 2016.
It also said that as a revenue generating agency, it also harvested the amount of N1.5 billion from patriotic Nigerians. While detailing on the inability of the body to enforce the laws against defaulters, he said that the board “lacks the the legal personality and autonomy to carry out some functions.
This lack of legal status has denied the Board the power to amongst other,
prosecute water bills defaulters or vandalizers of pipeline.
Part of the water board problems the inability of the administration
to change the ageing facilities.
He said that due to age and constant utilisation, some of some of the major infrastructures are in dire need of rehabilitation for them to function optimally. Some of these facilities he said are presently being overhauled. And these include the LUD Treatment plant 1 and the 8nr Booster station. He added that part of the issues mitigating it’s operations is lack of
office accommodations for the efficient discharge of its duties at the Headquarters and area officers.
He notified that staff of the organization are constrained to share compact office space which
hinders productivity. The problem, is also said to be affecting technology for efficient delivery.
The newly appointed Acting Director, noted that the water board overwhelmed of non- completion of outstanding projects provided in Abuja master plan especially the completion of trunks 1 and 6. Inadequate of approved operational cost as well as the problems vandalization of appurtenances on the trunk mains(air valves)
Others according to him is the menace of illegal connections, outstanding debts, lack of second hands value, lack of machinery or labour challenges.
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