By MARGARET TIZA, Abuja –
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Professor Joseph Utsev, on Thursday, received a delegation from Ior Gboko Foundation, a prominent non-governmental organization (NGO) known for its commitment to the promotion of the general growth and development of the ancient city of Gboko in Benue state.
Led by its President, Dr Jimmy Ajim andthe Provost, Ephraim Bombo, the delegation had audience with the Minister in his office in Abuja.
The meeting, as gathered, discussed specifically the hydra-headed problem of acute scarcity of water in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of the Tiv nation with a population of over one million residents.
Water scarcity has remained one of the major challenges facing Gboko town, as the multi-billion Naira Ameladu Water project, conceived by the military regime of arising General Ibrahim Babangida in 1993, has long been abandoned by successive administration.
Recently, it was reported by a top functionary of the Benue State Government that the Ameladu water project, initially envisaged to cost less than N40million, would now require about N20billion to be completed. But that was long before the exchange rate of the Naira against the Dollar sky-rocked – almost out of rich.
The project, envisioned to end decades of water scarcity in Benue’s second largest town, has equally suffered vandalization by unknown persons.
At Thursday’s meeting, the Minister, in response to a request by Dr. Jimmy Ajim, gave very comforting words to the delegation as he spoke about the efforts his ministry to find a permanent solution to nightmarish water problem in Gboko
The minister also assured Ior Gboko Foundation of the preparedness by the Water Resources Ministry to engage in robust partnership with the Foundation and other similar organizations with the aim of provide better community support services in Gboko and other parts of the country.
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