Epileptic power threatens Cross River’s public water supply

Cross River Government has raised the alarm over poor electricity supply in the state, saying this is threatening public water supply, as the state-owned Water Board Limited “spends an average of N5m on diesel to run its water stations.”

Speaking in Calabar, yesterday, Managing Director, Water Board Limited, Chief Victor Ekpo, said: “ Our transformer was damaged and we wrote to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) for a replacement. That has not been done.

The governor, Senator Ben Ayade, gave us two new transformers, but PHED still refused to connect us. We are appealing to the Federal Government and Minister of State on Power to intervene. Residents of Akamkpa, Ikom and other adjourning areas are suffering. We cannot supply them water because of lack of electricity… We are running all our outlets with diesel. In Calabar metropolis, instead of 24 hours, we give 10 hours of water supply daily. We run generating sets in Itigidi, Okpoma, Obubra, Obudu and Ogoja outstations.

Ekpo said: “We want Federal Government to give us a waiver in electricity supply so that state can provide water for the people, especially in this Coronavirus era…”

Source: The Guardian