Abia State Government Commissions First-Ever Water Project in Okwoyi Ibeku After 130 Years

In a historic move that ends over a century of water scarcity, the Abia State Government has commissioned a functional water project in Okwoyi Isieke Ibeku, located in Umuahia North Local Government Area. The project, which marks the first time in about 130 years that the community is accessing clean, potable water, was executed through the Abia State Ministry of Power and Public Utilities in collaboration with the Abia Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).

The water facility was officially opened for public use by Governor Alex Otti, who was represented at the commissioning by the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini, the legislator representing Umuahia East constituency.

The water project was initiated following Hon. Meregini’s legislative intervention and an investigative report by Television Continental (TVC), which brought national attention to the deplorable living conditions of Okwoyi residents, especially their decades-long dependence on dirty, distant streams for water.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Meregini said Governor Otti was moved by the dire state of water access in some rural areas and resolved to end the neglect.

“His Excellency is determined to tackle the water crisis and restore dignity to our rural communities,” Meregini said, noting the governor’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure that directly improves public health.

Also speaking at the event, Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, described the new water project as part of the Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Program, a government initiative focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).He reaffirmed that Governor Otti views clean water not as a luxury but a right for every citizen of the state.

“We’re not just building projects—we’re saving lives and restoring health. This administration is guided by the principle that access to safe drinking water is non-negotiable,” Monday said.

He praised the efforts of Hon. Meregini, local advocate Mr. Ibeabuchi Abarikwu, and media platforms like TVC for spotlighting the community’s suffering.

Reacting to the development, the Interim Chairman of Okwoyi Community, Mr. Nnochiri Nworgu, expressed profound gratitude to the state government, saying the new facility has brought “hope and healing” to the people.

“For generations, we drank from dirty streams. During dry season, the stream would dry up, and people would walk long distances just to fetch water that made us sick,” Nworgu said.

He urged the community to safeguard the facility from vandalism, echoing Commissioner Monday’s appeal to the youth and elders of Okwoyi to treat the infrastructure as a shared asset.
For the people of Okwoyi Ibeku, this isn’t just a water project—it’s a symbol of visibility and inclusion after decades of neglect. With this, the Otti-led administration has not only addressed a pressing basic need but also reaffirmed its pledge to bring tangible development to the grassroots.