BENIN – The Edo State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare, said on Sunday that the State Government has no plans to tax borehole owners.
The commissioner told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the state government was committed to the welfare of the people as well as ensuring the availability of safe potable water for the citizens.
Ebare said that in spite of the increasing number of boreholes in homes across the state, government would ensure that water was supplied from its reservoir.
He noted that sinking of boreholes by residents was a “plan B” option to ensure constant water supply in their homes.
He said that the state government was collaborating with the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to achieve its vision of providing safe drinking water.
He explained that government has so far rehabilitated all the water stations across the state, adding that plans were almost concluded to reticulate water from the Ojirame Dam, in Akoko Edo North.
Ebare also said that the Ewohimi water scheme in Edo Central has commenced water reticulation and that the water project in Ugboha, Esan North East local government area, was 80 per cent completed.
He explained that the replacement of exhumed asbestos pipes had commenced following a World Health Organisation warning that asbestos cause cancer.
However, Ebare disclosed that the ministry in conjunction with the state House Committee on Water was working to ensure that only registered sachet water producers operate in the state.
According to the commissioner, 18 facilities of illegal sachet water companies were shut down early this year due to illegal activities.
The commissioner also explained that some of the sachet producers were operating in unhealthy environment and urged members of the public to report such illegal operators. (NAN)
