Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly. He was the Majority Leader of the House between 2015 – 2019. But beyond all that, Orji is a man known for his eagerness to positively touch the lives of his constituents, and even beyond, in several ways.
Through his Direct Touch Initiative, Chinedum Orji has embarked on different projects in several communities and institutions including schools, medical centres, etc, providing needed facilities like transformers, community halls, free medical treatment, empowerment items, scholarships, renovations and reconstruction of schools etc.
Among these facilities, water projects deserve some mentioning in the spirit of today’s occasion being World Water Day.
- Declare national emergency on water
- How water from streams, ponds, lakes is claiming lives in Nigeria
Experts have said that 60 million Nigerians risk water-related diseases while the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says about 26.5 million Nigerian children do not have enough water to meet their daily needs.
So, in the face of these staggering figures, government, institutions and even individuals need to contribute their quotas in making safe water more easily available to the people.
This is why Chinedum Orji’s efforts in this regard is worth our attention..
Since assuming office as a lawmaker in Abia State in 2015, Orji has embarked on water projects in different communities in his constituency. They include:
Umuagom Water Project
Umuobasi Water Project
Amaokwe Water Project
World Bank Estate Health Centre Water Project
World Bank Pry School Water Project
Union Pry School Water Project
Ohokobe Enyiukwu Water Project
Orie Ogwu Okwulaga Afaraukwu Water Project
Ohobo Afaraukwu Water Project
Finbarr’s Road Water Project
Methodist Pry School Water Project
Amuzukwu Girls’Secondary School Water Project
Amuzukwu Pry School Water Project
Amuzukwu Mbaraukwu Water Project and,
School Road Pry School Water Project.
These water projects have no doubt brought succour to the respective benefitting communities and institutions.
As if that was not enough, the Speaker led his colleagues at the Abia State House of Assembly to pass the Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill into Law.
The Law provides for the Development and Regulation of Abia Water and Sewage/Sanitation & Hygiene Sector through the Abia State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency.
With this law, the Assembly under Orji has provided the legal framework and impetus needed by government to provide the people with sufficient safe water for their daily use and reduce water-related diseases and vulnerability. This is a great example for the privileged and those who occupy public offices.
Leaders should therefore emulate the examples already set by the Abia Speaker by reaching out directly to society and also deploy the functions of their offices for the greater benefit of their people.
Like the United Nations said, “The value of water is about much more its price”.
The people are, indeed, priceless!
Ndukwe is the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly
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