NEWS
Okpebholo Restores Water to Edo Central Communities
With the completion of a comprehensive overhaul of the Ugboha Water Supply Scheme in Edo Central, the Edo State Government has recorded a major milestone in its ongoing effort to guarantee clean and sustainable water supply across the state.
The rehabilitation exercise, which has restored full water reticulation to Ugboha and parts of Uromi and Irrua, marks a significant turnaround in the State’s drive to strengthen public utilities and improve the quality of life for citizens.
During an inspection of the project, the Managing Director of the Edo State Urban Water Corporation, Uyi Ekhosuehi disclosed that for the first time since the scheme’s establishment, Ugboha, the host community, now enjoys uninterrupted access to safe, treated water.
He explained that years of neglect and the use of substandard materials by a previous contractor had crippled the scheme, leaving residents without benefit from the multimillion-naira investment.
“Ugboha never benefited from this project when it was originally executed. Substandard pipes were used, mixing UPVC with ductile materials, which resulted in persistent leakages. The dam itself had suffered decades of poor maintenance,” Ekhosuehi said.
“Governor Okpebholo insisted that this project would not be abandoned. He approved a complete turnaround maintenance, which has delivered a new fully automated filtration plant, high-pressure pumping systems, and durable ductile industrial pipes capable of carrying primary water for reticulation.”
With the host community now connected, the Corporation has commenced extension works to cover other parts of Uromi and Uwesan.
According to the Managing Director, all necessary pipes and fittings have been delivered, with full connection to be completed in the coming weeks. He further revealed that the restoration plan will soon extend to Irrua, Ekpoma, Iruekpen, Illeh, and environs, while design works are ongoing to reactivate the Ojirami and Ikpoba River dams to strengthen supply across Edo North and South.
“Our target is clear: within the next five to six years, Governor Okpebholo wants to end the water challenge across Edo State,” he affirmed. “We are also working on restoring water to Agbede in Edo North and Sakponba in Edo South. This administration is determined to ensure that every Edo citizen, urban or rural, has access to safe, affordable water.”
On the partial commercialisation of the scheme, Ekhosuehi clarified that the initiative is designed to prevent wastage in urban areas while maintaining free access for rural communities. He explained that metered urban households will pay a modest tariff of about six hundred naira per thousand litres — a dramatic reduction from the thirty-five thousand-naira residents previously spent on tanker supplies.
“This system has encouraged ownership and reduced waste,” he said. “Meanwhile, rural dwellers fetch water free of charge from designated discharge points.”
Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mallam Gani Audu, who was on the inspection tour, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that the governor is determined to ensure full reticulation across Edo Central.
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“I will make a comprehensive report to the governor with recommendations for immediate action. What we have seen here is impressive. Hon. Uyi and his team are doing a remarkable job,” he said.
For the people of Ugboha, the impact is already being felt. Residents such as Endurance Azobor, Joshua Ohonsi and Elizabeth Okosun, who had relied on distant rivers for survival, expressed gratitude to the government.
“Before now, we trekked long distances to fetch water from unsafe rivers. Today, water runs just outside our homes. Our children and women are happy; the whole community is grateful to Governor Okpebholo and the Water Corporation,” said Azobor.
Among the key facilities overhauled in the scheme are the treatment and filtration plants, now fully automated; the pumping house fitted with high-pressure systems; and the replacement of faulty UPVC pipes with heavy-duty ductile industrial pipes to ensure durability and reliability.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, on Thursday visited Bauchi State for a closed-door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed amid growing political realignments in the country.
Obi, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition, arrived at the Bauchi State Government House where he proceeded to a private meeting with the governor at the Presidential Lounge.
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The purpose of the visit was not immediately known as both politicians held discussions behind closed doors.
Details of the meeting remained undisclosed at the time of filing this report.
However, sources within the Government House suggested that the meeting may be connected to recent political developments and possible alignments ahead of future elections, though this could not be independently verified.
Both leaders are expected to brief journalists after the meeting concludes.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who serves as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has recently been at the center of political speculation regarding his party allegiance.
On March 31, he reportedly hinted at a possible political shift during a meeting with a delegation of the African Democratic Congress led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at the Government House in Bauchi.
However, his political engagements appeared to take a different turn shortly after, as he also hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on April 1 at the same venue.
The latest meeting with Obi has further intensified speculation about ongoing political consultations and possible future alignments among key political actors.
President Bola Tinubu has requested the approval of the Senate for a fresh external borrowing of $516.33 million, in a move that is expected to further raise concerns over Nigeria’s growing debt profile.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and was read during plenary on Thursday at the National Assembly.
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According to the letter, the proposed loan is to be sourced from Deutsche Bank and will be used to finance a key infrastructure component under the government’s already approved borrowing programme—the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project, a major road corridor designed to enhance connectivity across the country.
President Tinubu, in the request, urged the Senate to give the proposal expedited consideration and approval, stressing the importance of the project to national infrastructure development and economic growth.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, directing the committee to examine the proposal and submit its report within one week.
The latest borrowing request comes amid ongoing national debates over Nigeria’s debt sustainability, as the federal government continues to rely on external loans to fund large-scale infrastructure projects.
A Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending the determination of his trial.
The ruling was delivered by Justice D.H. Khobo, who held that the seriousness of the allegations against the former governor, as well as concerns over possible interference with ongoing investigations, made the grant of bail inappropriate at this stage.
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El-Rufai had approached the court seeking release on bail pending trial over a nine-count charge filed by the Federal Government through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
He argued that the offences were not capital in nature and that he posed no flight risk, citing his community ties, fixed residences, and willingness to cooperate with investigators.
He also told the court that he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to honour official invitations and challenged the validity of the charges, describing them as defective.
Additionally, he raised health concerns, requesting bail on medical grounds.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the alleged offences were serious and economically damaging, with a likelihood that the defendant could interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo held that the gravity of the charges and the risk of interference outweighed the arguments for bail.
The court also ruled that insufficient medical evidence had been provided to justify release on health grounds.
The judge therefore ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody and directed that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis, fixing early hearing dates for the case.
The former governor will remain detained as proceedings continue in the high-profile corruption trial.
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