New Dawn For Potable Water In Ondo As Aiyedatiwa Launches Owena Dam Supply Project

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday declared that the era of prolonged water scarcity in the state is drawing to a close, assuring residents of access to clean, safe and sustainable water after decades of inadequate supply.

The governor made the declaration during the groundbreaking ceremony of the AFD and AfDB–assisted water supply projects at the Owena Dam in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area.

Describing the event as the revival of a long-abandoned vision, Aiyedatiwa said the ceremony symbolised a renewed commitment to delivering potable water to residents who have endured years of dry taps and unreliable supply, noting that ” the stalled Owena Multipurpose Dam Water Treatment Plant had represented lost opportunities for decades, but with the intervention of AFD and AfDB, the state is now embarking on a historic turnaround”.

According to the governor, the Urban Water Supply Project will rehabilitate the Owena Water Treatment Plant, construct new transmission mains to Akure and surrounding areas, build 7,500-cubic-metre reservoirs, and expand urban distribution networks.

He added that the AfDB-assisted component would also strengthen sanitation systems and extend access to water across seven local government areas — Akure South, Akure North, Idanre, Ifedore, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Ondo East and Ondo West — assuring residents that no community would be left behind.

He expressed appreciation to AFD, AfDB, the African Growth Together Fund (AGTF) and the Federal Government for their support, urging contractors to deliver the projects with integrity and diligence.

Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Ayo Adekoya-Benson described the groundbreaking as a decisive step by government to ensure the provision of safe, sustainable and renewable water.

According to him, the initiative goes beyond rehabilitating old systems to include water treatment facilities, transmission pipelines to Akure, reservoir construction and distribution network expansion to bridge long-standing gaps.

Adekoya-Benson commended AfDB and other development partners for their collaboration, adding that the project symbolises a rebirth of a critical sector where no child would drink unsafe water and households would enjoy reliable supply.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Ayodele Akande, said the new phase goes beyond breaking physical ground. “We are breaking the barriers of scarcity, unfulfilled hopes and interrupted dreams,” he said.

Akande explained that the projects include the rehabilitation of a moribund 60,000-cubic-metre dam, treatment plant upgrades, construction of transmission pipelines to Akure, reservoir development and network expansion designed to close long-standing service gaps.

He expressed confidence that the intervention would ensure that no child drinks unsafe water again, while households would soon enjoy consistent running water.

In a goodwill message, the Project Manager of the African Growth Together Fund (AGTF), Engineer Kehinde Michael, said the Water Reform and Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project represents a major joint commitment by the Federal Government, Ondo State Government, AfDB and AGTF to transform water and sanitation service delivery in Akure and surrounding communities.

He explained that the project targets expanded access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in Akure, Ondo City and satellite areas, adding that it rests on three core components: water and sanitation infrastructure development; institutional capacity strengthening; and project management aimed at enhancing the commercial viability of the Ondo State Water Corporation.

According to him, the establishment of a new 60,000-cubic-metre-per-day treatment plant will unlock the full value of the Owena Dam and ensure reliable water supply to Akure and its environs until at least 2032.

Also speaking, an AfDB representative, Dr. Abdul Kamara, commended the state government’s leadership, noting that access to safe water reduces disease burden, improves learning outcomes and enhances the investment climate.

He added that the project aligns with AfDB’s “High Five” priorities — improving quality of life, integrating Africa, industrialising Africa, feeding Africa and powering Africa — and fits into the bank’s renewed focus on strengthening African financial systems.