The Ekiti State government recognizes access to safe water and sanitation as a priority. When the current administration took office in 2010, only 40% of the state had access to water while sanitation was poor. The water sector faced challenges including poor infrastructure, funding, and management. To address this, the government is improving existing water systems, building new ones, and developing a long-term master plan through stakeholder consultation. A two-day forum will be held on March 22-23, 2012 to gather input on a draft water and sanitation policy from various groups and organizations.

1. Ekiti State Water Supply and Sanitation Policy
Stakeholders Consultative Forum
PRESS RELEASE
The Administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State considers access to
sustainable and safe potable water supply and affordable hygienic sanitation
system as one of its priorities and views them as essential means of improving the
health and livelihood of the people and reducing poverty level of the citizens. The
water and sanitation sector is also central to the growth and development of
other sectors of the economy as well as the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
When the administration took-off in October, 2010 the coverage of potable water
supply in Ekiti State was assessed to be only 40% while sanitation facilities were in
poor state. The water supply and sanitation sector in Ekiti State was equally
assessed to be faced with challenges of poor institutional arrangement,
inadequate funding and weak technical capacity with managerial ineptitude and
poor service delivery. The administration concluded that the model that had been
in existence since the creation of the state neither followed the best practice
principle nor ensures sustainable service delivery. Similarly, interaction of the
administration with Development Partners also came to the same conclusion that
there should be an enduring master plan which shall be a guiding principle for the
development of the sector.
The government is taking two parallel but concurrent approaches to address the
challenges, thus;

2. Approach 1: Improvement of existing potable water schemes output and
construction of new schemes across the State.
Approach 2: To develop permanent and sustainable master plan with
implementation guidelines for the State.
Some of the actions taken to address the first approach are;
1 Procurement and installation of a 2500 KVA power generating plant
and repair of 2nos. Low Lift Pumps of Ero River Water Supply
Scheme.
2 Installation of additional pumps at Ado Water Supply Scheme
including laying of 4.5km dedicated rising main (steel pipeline) to the
Mary Hill Reservoir. The Government also in counterpart
collaborative effort supported MDG in the laying of additional pipes
to improve pipe distribution network in Ado and construction of new
water schemes at Ogotun, Ipole-Iloro, Erinjinyan, Okemesi and Ido-
Ile.
3 Similarly, the Government in partnership with European Union is
constructing water schemes in eleven small towns of the state which
include; Orin, Erio, Ipao, Ipole-Iloro and Erinjinyan.
4 The Guinness-donated water supply scheme in Ise-Ekiti has been
completed and commissioned.
5 In realisation of the potential of communities in water supply
management, the Government is taking pro-active measures to
rehabilitate all borehole schemes of the state and empower
Community Association to take over, operate and maintain the
schemes. This approach is already yielding dividend in towns like;
Ilumoba, Emure, etc.
6 Also the European Union (EU) has listed Ekiti as one of the three
states in their next round of Water Supply and Sanitation Sector
Reform Programme (WSSSRP III). They have already formulated the
programme of intervention.

3. In further demonstration of the administration’s commitment to laying solid
foundation for the water supply and sanitation sector in the State, Government
engaged the services of Messrs Rodeson Investment Company Limited to
facilitate development of the Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, the Law and the
Policy Implementation Guidelines.
Through a participatory process the Government has developed a policy proposal
for water supply and sanitation for Ekiti State. This proposed policy is now set for
all Stakeholders’ consultative forum with a view to subjecting the proposed policy
to a wider public input and develop an acceptable people oriented policy for
water supply and sanitation service delivery for the State which will serve as the
master plan to development in the sector.
The objectives of the stakeholders’ consultative forum among other are:
i. To seek wider consultation with all water supply and sanitation
stakeholders in the State
ii. To use the forum as a town hall meeting for dissemination of
information to the general public on government’s efforts at improving
water supply and sanitation service delivery in the State
iii. To serve as a forum for attracting the attention and support of the
Federal Government and Development Partners in improving water
supply and sanitation service delivery in the State
iv. To develop a people oriented water supply and sanitation policy through
a participatory approach as the hallmark of democracy and good
governance promoted by this administration.

4. Participants expected at the forum include, top government functionaries, the
National Planning Commission, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources,
Development Partners such as EU, UNICEF, World Bank, UNDP, WaterAid, etc,
Non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, LGAs, the
private sector, the press and the Rodeson Group. The forum will be declared
opened by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The two day forum will hold as follows:
Date: 22nd – 23rd March 2012
Venue: Catholic Pastoral Centre, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti
The date for this great event coincides with the World Water Day – 23rd March
declared by the United Nations. It is therefore an occasion to show case to the
world, the efforts of Ekiti State Government in improving water supply and
sanitation service delivery. The opening ceremony which will celebrate the World
Water Day will commence by 10.00am on Thursday 22nd March 2012.
The Press is hereby through this medium invited to attend this august event and
give it the widest publicity it deserves.
We look forward to seeing you at the event.
Signed
Kayode Jegede
Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on
Infrastructure and Public Utilities