Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stated that the era of prolonged water scarcity is nearing its end, declaring that pipe-borne water will flow in the state again.
The governor made the declaration on Tuesday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the AFD- and AfDB-assisted water supply projects at the Owena Dam in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area.
The initiative, described as a revival of a long-abandoned vision, is set to benefit an estimated 1.3 million residents across seven local government areas.
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Aiyedatiwa noted that the stalled Owena Multipurpose Dam Water Treatment Plant had represented lost opportunities for years.
The new project known as the Urban Water Sector Reform and Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project, is being financed through a joint commitment of multiple partners.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is providing US$142 million, while the African Growing Together Fund (AGTF) is contributing US$20 million.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is supporting the project through an already-secured credit facility of US$57 million for the rehabilitation of the Owena Dam.
In addition, the Ondo State Government is committing US$36.9 million and the Federal Government is contributing US$2.5 million.
The Urban Water Supply Project includes the rehabilitation of the Owena Water Treatment Plant to restore its original design capacity of 60,000 cubic metres per day.
It also involves the delivery of new transmission mains to Akure and surrounding areas, comprising 44.73 kilometres of transmission lines and 691.32 kilometres of distribution pipelines.
Furthermore, the project will include the construction of new 7,500-cubic-metre reservoirs and the expansion of urban distribution networks.
The AfDB-assisted component will specifically strengthen sanitation systems and extend water access across seven Local Government Areas: Akure South, Akure North, Idanre, Ifedore, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Ondo East, and Ondo West.
The governor highlighted that the dam’s rehabilitation is a multi-purpose investment that will also support irrigation, fisheries, renewable energy, and tourism.
In line with a comprehensive modernisation program, Aiyedatiwa also launched mobile solar-powered irrigation pumps for farmers, water quality testing kits and water treatment tablets for households to test for bacteria, acidity, turbidity, hardness, and nitrates, which will help reduce the risk of cholera and typhoid.
The governor concluded by urging contractors to execute the projects with integrity and diligence, reiterating his administration’s commitment to prioritising potable water and strengthening long-term service delivery institutions.
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The Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Ayodele Akande, described the event as a historic breakthrough, recalling that the last major intervention in Akure dated back to the 2009 Owena Dam project, which never reached its potential.
AfDB representative, Abdul Kamara, commended the state government’s leadership, noting that the initiative aligns with the Bank’s “High-Five” priorities of improving the quality of life, feeding Africa, and powering the continent.
