The Ekiti State government has sanctioned ₦1,681,198,360.20 for the upgrading and rehabilitation of 104 high-yielding boreholes. The project is set to cover all 16 local government areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) throughout the state.
The funding was authorised during a state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Biodun Oyebanji. This decision is part of a government-led initiative to expand access to reliable water infrastructure and improve the living standards of residents in both rural and urban settings.
The targeted 104 boreholes are classified as high-yielding, meaning they possess the capacity to provide significant volumes of water to large populations. By focusing on the rehabilitation of existing assets rather than solely on new drilling, the administration aims to maximise the utility of current water infrastructure that has fallen into disrepair.
Improving Water Access Across Ekiti LGAs
The deployment of these funds comes at a time when water security remains a pressing issue for many Nigerian states. In Ekiti, the degradation of community water points often forces residents to rely on unsafe alternatives, which increases the prevalence of waterborne diseases and places a financial strain on low-income households.
The ₦1.68 billion expenditure will cover the technical requirements needed to restore functionality to the selected sites. This includes the replacement of mechanical parts, electrical components, and the strengthening of the delivery systems to ensure consistent output for the benefitting communities.
By distributing the projects across all 16 LGAs and their LCDAs, the state government intends to ensure equitable access to water, preventing the marginalisation of more remote communities. The scope of the project reflects an attempt to decentralise essential services and bring functional infrastructure closer to the people.
The state government is expected to move into the procurement phase shortly, involving the invitation of tenders from qualified contractors to execute the rehabilitation works. The commencement of the project will depend on the completion of these administrative and bidding procedures.
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