Ogun State House of Assembly through its Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption has challenged the State Water Corporation to improve on its service delivery by ensuring that the people have access to potable water in all parts of the State.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Damilare Bello, threw the challenge while playing host to the management team of the Corporation during the ongoing consideration of the 2023 audit reports on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government in the State at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Chairman , in company of Honourables Dickson Awolaja, Oluseun Adesanya, Samsudeen Lawal, Babatunde Tella, Lukman Adeleye, Adebisi Oyedele and Musefiu Lamidi, emphasized that water was essential for human existence, hence the Corporation must continue to live up to the expectation of the people.

He commended the Corporation’s ongoing efforts to expand water distribution; urging it to continue working diligently to fulfill its mandate at providing potable water to the residents of the State.

The House Committee therefore directed the Water Corporation to provide detailed breakdown of the water distribution network, contractor details, payment processes, expenditure breakdowns and scheme reports amongst others.

Responding, the management of the Corporation led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goal and Water Resources, Hon. Damilola Otubanjo alongside the Consultant to the Governor on Water Resources Alhaja Muinat Jaji, highlighted the Corporation’s achievements to include ongoing projects such as the Abeokuta Water Works Scheme and the construction of a reservoir at Oke-Temidire.

They added that more initiatives were being put in place to provide water to parts of Obantoko and Ashero as well as other communities in the State.

The management team further stated that efforts were being intensified to simplify payment process for consumers, ensuring they pay only for water used, thereby increasing the Corporation’s revenue base, disclosing that progress was being made on the African French Development (AFD) projects aimed at enhancing water access in the State.

Other agencies that had their financial reports considered by the House Committee included the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, led by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi and the State Hospital, Ifo, represented by its Chief Medical Director, Dr. Olufemi Soetan.

The two agencies were instructed by the House Committee to submit documents detailing maintenance services and other supporting documents for their financial operations.