As part of his inspection tour of federal water supply projects in the Southwest, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, visited the Ilesha Water Supply Project in Osun State recently.
The visit aimed to assess the current status of the project and explore ways to enhance the water supply to 32 villages in the Ilesha area.
Prof. Utsev emphasized the need for immediate improvements in water quality and quantity, highlighting the importance of environmentally friendly and cost-efficient solutions.
He called on the Osun State project consultant to provide comprehensive recommendations and announced plans for a follow-up meeting to address the challenges facing the project.
The inspection revealed a significant depletion in water quantity from the reservoir, with the project consultant, Engr. Lanre Abioye recommended measures such as desilting the reservoir and constructing a new 5 million cubic meter reservoir.
The visit was attended by key stakeholders, including Osun State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Sunday Olufemi Oroniyi, and senior officials from both the Federal and State governments.
Recall that the minister recently called for a robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment in the water sector to achieve sustainable and equitable access to water and sanitation services for Nigerians.
He made the call at the 5th Lagos State International Water Conference held in June 2024.
Professor Utsev urged state governors, development partners, and the private sector to prioritize investment in the water sector.
