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Ogoja water scheme: Cross River, Chinese firm sign N2.6 contract

By on August 17, 2014

The Cross River State Government has signed a N2.6 billion contract for the construction of Ogoja Water scheme with a Chinese firm CGC.

The signing of the contract is coming few months after the state commissioned the N5.3 billion Ikom Water Scheme.

At a ceremony held at Government House, Calabar, yesterday, Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr.  Etowa Elemi signed on behalf of the state while the Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Limited Mr. Ye Sejiun signed on behalf of the company.

Speaking at the event, Governor Liyel Imoke said, “Provision of potable water and access to water has been on top of our agenda as an administration. It is our vision that if we can deliver on our projects to the people across the state, then we would achieve the vision of making life easier and reducing poverty while improving on overall well-being of the citizenry.”

Imoke disclosed that the World Bank assisted Calabar water scheme had become a benchmark for PPP (Public Private Partnership) projects.

The governor said the phase one of the Ikom water scheme valued at N5.3billion was funded by the state while its second phase would be funded by the World Bank.

He stated that the water project would cover not just Ogoja, but Bekwara  and Yala Local Government Areas as well.

Imoke said when the project was completed; it would increase access to potable water in the state to about 80 per cent.

Imoke said the project would be constructed for sustainability and will be managed under PPP to address the challenges involved in delivering clean water to the communities.

Imoke said the state was proud to partner with CGC Nigeria Limited to ensure millions of Nigerians had access to water.
Imoke, therefore, appealed to the benefitting communities to understand the importance of the project and cooperate with the contractor to enable them enjoy the benefit from it as government was prepared to play its role.

The Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sejiun, who said the company had been in Nigeria for 31 years, commended the state government for giving it the opportunity to exhibit its expertise in the construction of water projects.
Sejiun said the project was expected to be complete in 18 months.

[This Day]