Water
Mr Michael Dzungu, the General Manager (GM), Benue State Water Board, stated on Monday in Makurdi that the board needed N350 million to effectively supply water to residents of the state capital.
Dzungu told the NANthat the money would be for the extension of water lines to areas hitherto unconnected.
He stated this was the alternative since the state government could not afford to spend over N50 billion needed for the reticulation of Makurdi town.
“Alternatively, the board will use N350 million to extend the old water lines, “ he stated.
Dzungu condemned the lukewarm attitudes of the residents of the state concerning water issues and charged them to take the matter more seriously.
“People here did not take water issues seriously and that is a bad habit. There are several issues of illegal disconnections and connections of water lines yet the people cannot inform the board if they are not having water.
“Most of the disconnections in the town are not carried out by my staff. It is through the activities of illegal connections that such disconnections occur.
“We really need to change our attitudes concerning water issues in the state, “ he cautioned.
Dzungu stated that the board had submitted lists of water debtors to the Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Water and Environment for it to act upon.
Guardian