Owerri – Back in July 2020, something pretty significant happened for water access in Imo State. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Stephen M. Haykin teamed up with Governor Hope Uzodinma in a virtual ceremony to officially launch a partnership aimed at getting clean water to more people across the state.
The agreement they signed basically maps out how USAID and Imo State will work together to transform the state’s Water Board into something that actually works like a proper business – one that’s professionally run, financially stable, and accountable to the people it serves. The idea is to fix the Water Board’s money problems and strengthen the whole system for delivering water and sanitation services.
At the ceremony, Haykin explained what they’re trying to accomplish: “By helping the Water Board make smarter investment choices, fix their billing systems, and actually respond to what customers need, we’re going to help more people get clean water and cut down on waterborne diseases. That’s good for everyone’s health and Nigeria’s economy.”
After Governor Uzodinma officially announced the creation of the new Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation, he said he’d name the board of directors later on.
The governor was pretty candid about the problem they’re facing – about 85% of people in rural areas don’t have reliable running water. But he’s optimistic that within a year, this project could help around 100,000 state residents get better access to clean water.
“This fits perfectly with what my administration is trying to do – make sure our people are taken care of,” the governor said. “I’m committed to making this work, and we’re going to run the Imo Water Board like a real business so it can actually sustain itself.”
This is all part of USAID’s bigger $60.4 million E-WASH program, which is working with Imo and five other states to improve water access and reduce disease. The program focuses on helping Water Boards make better decisions, improve their billing systems, and actually listen to their customers.
Over the next four years, E-WASH expects to bring in an additional $50 million from both public and private sources, and they’re aiming to get piped clean water to at least 50,000 households. Delta, Abia, and Taraba states have already signed similar deals.
The E-WASH program is just one piece of USAID’s broader effort to work more closely with Nigerian government agencies – both federal and state – to boost economic growth and make communities more resilient through better water and sanitation services.
