Ekiti State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities Prof Mobolaji Aluko has declared the readiness of Government to make 2024 a remarkable year for achieving laudable results in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the State.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during the first review meeting of WASH Implementing Agencies under the State Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities , Aluko noted that the forum was convened to re-strategize and redouble efforts towards ensuring that the WASH sector achieves the objectives of the SURWASH programme which is to provide access to potable water supply in a sustainable manner that will be convenient for the citizens as well as ensuring that Sanitation and Hygiene service is maximally achieved, maintained and sustained in the State

He explained that Ekiti was endowed with rivers, water schemes and water dams, such as Egbe, Ero, Ureje, Ogbese and Itapaji which were capable of providing regular clean and potable water to all parts of the State as well as serving as a veritable source of revenue to the state for agriculture (irrigation and fishery), tourism and recreation if properly harnessed.

He charged the representatives of the concerned Agencies to brainstorm and identify the problems facing the sector and come up with workable solutions .

The Commissioner said the concerned Agencies should also develop a template such as a dash board with detailed information for the seamless monitoring of the household beneficiaries being supplied water, volume of Water as well as number of functioning Boreholes and non functional ones with their locations adding that this will go a long way in measuring performance and charting the way forward.

He therefore charged the concerned Implementing Agencies to take bold steps towards addressing the technical constraints and expedite action to meet up with the State procedure policies and bureaucracy that may likely slow down the delivery of SURWASH program.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry ,Engr Olumide Ajayi urged the concerned Agencies to collectively contribute meaningfully this year to ensure success in the WASH sector.

Also speaking,the General Manager of the Ekiti Small Town and Rural Water supply Agency, Mr Ayo Alegbeleye who disclosed that sites identification and selection for year 2024 have been completed noted that they are only waiting for the team on Environmental and Social Safeguard matter to commence the sites screening exercise in order to meet up with the state procedure policies and bureaucracy processing that may slow down the timely delivery of the projects.

The Program Coordinator of SURWASH program in the State ,Engr. Stephen Adewumi,
sought for greater collaboration and cooperation amongst all stakeholders in the WASH sector to synergize together and accomplish common goals and objectives of SURWASH Program in the State this year.

All the Implementing Agencies reported their activities and achievement for the previous year during the strategic meeting.

The WASH sector representatives present at meeting were from the main Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Ekiti Water and Sewerage Company, Ekiti Small Town and Rural Water supply Agency, Water Supply Regulatory Agency and the State Program Implementation Unit of SURWASH program .