Ebonyi State government on Tuesday announced that ongoing repair work at Azuinyioku bridge along the Enugu/Abakaliki/Ogoja trans-Saharan superhighway is hindering the distribution of water to Abakaliki and its surroundings.
In a discussion with journalists in Abakaliki, the Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Mineral Development and Chairman of the Oferekpe Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation, Prince John Nwangbo, explained that the New Map Project caused damage at the bridge.
He accused the New Map Project of damaging vital water pipelines essential to the state’s effort to restore the long-abandoned Oferekpe water scheme. He appealed to the people that the work would soon be completed and water would be restored.
Nwangbo clarified that the destruction occurred during excavation work by the New Map contractors on the bridge, but they allegedly failed to account for the presence of an existing water line crossing the bridge.
The Oferekpe Water Treatment Plant, which has been abandoned for over eight years, is being revived by Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration to enhance the potable water supply across Abakaliki and its surrounding areas.
Nwangbo mentioned that the rehabilitation had made significant progress before the setback, with major installations finished and pipelines laid.
“When we pumped water from Oferekpe, it couldn’t reach the central reservoir because the New Map project destroyed the main pipeline. We were lucky the damage didn’t collapse the entire treatment system,” he said.
“This is not just any pipe — it’s heavy-duty hardware, including 600mm and 800mm steel and ductile pipes,” he explained.
He said his team has been on site for over two weeks, working to reconnect and reroute the damaged section despite difficult weather conditions. “Rainfall keeps collapsing the trench, forcing us to restart. But we’re determined to finish,” he said.
While giving assurance of completion before mid-August, Nwangbo urged residents to remain patient.
“Water is essential, and the governor is committed to ensuring it reaches every home. We didn’t expect this setback, but we are pushing through,” he added.
