The newly appointed Commissioner for Water Resources in Imo State, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu, undertook a productive visit and thorough assessment of the Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation (ISWSC), as well as the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and Imo State Small Town Water and Sanitation Agency (ISSTOWA) on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Engr. Peter Chukwuma, the Managing Director and CEO of ISWSC, Chikadibia Edom, the Managing Director of RUWASSA, along with Engr. Chizoba Udegbe, the SURWASH Project Coordinator, and the management team of ISWSC graciously received the Commissioner, engaging in an extensive evaluation of the facilities. The primary objective was to gauge the current condition of the facilities and discern the challenges confronting the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, in alignment with the directives of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The Commissioner’s visit was instrumental in assessing the current infrastructure status and identifying hurdles within the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector. Acting upon Governor Hope Uzodimma’s mandate, the Commissioner meticulously inspected facilities at RUWASSA (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency) and ISSTOWA (Imo State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency) to ensure enhanced service delivery to the populace during the second phase of Governor Uzodimma’s tenure.

During the facility assessment, the Commissioner underscored the imperative need for robust infrastructure and the modernization of outdated wash facilities to optimize the operational framework of the WASH sector.

A myriad of critical facilities within the Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation underwent thorough scrutiny, including ICT facilities, laboratories at the Otammiri treatment plant, the ISWSC Resource Centre, the ISWSC Conference Hall, and the ISWSC lactation Room.

The commissioner also visited the SPIU NG-SURWASH Office in the state where he had a crucial meeting with all heads of IAs and the SPIU towards critical steps at achieving all critical goals in water, sanitation and hygiene.

Concurrently, the Commissioner proffered insightful recommendations for enhancement at each site, accentuating the significance of augmenting operational efficiency.

Aligned with the Governor’s visionary agenda, the Commissioner divulged plans to scrutinize all facilities of the Implementing agencies to unearth prospects for future advancements in the state’s WASH sector. He emphasized the imperative of adopting sustainable WASH management practices and perpetuating infrastructure investment to cater to the burgeoning demands of Imo’s residents in the WASH domain.

Uzoamaka Odom
Communication Officer