Uyo – The management of the Akwa Ibom Water Company has said that the company would spend N2.6 billion on water reticulation projects in urban centres in the state.
The General Manager of the company, Mr Ernest Usoro, said this in Uyo, while defending the 2015 budget of the company before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Usoro said the projects would involve the replacement of old water pipes and installation of new ones, to link new customers.
Usoro, who presented a budget of N4 billion, said Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo, were urban centres that would benefit from the projects.
He said that the company would also spend N950 million for the purchase and installation of automated meters at Ebiye and Shelter Afrique estates in Uyo.
He said that in the budget, N100 million had been earmarked for the upgrade of water facilities at Ikono and Ukanafun Local Government Areas.
The company, according to Usoro, needed N100 million to purchase official and utility vehicles for its daily operations.
He told the lawmakers that about N250 million would be expended on maintenance, repairs and general administration of the company in 2015.
Usoro said it was unfortunate that most water pipes especially in Uyo, had been damaged by construction companies in the course of road construction.
He said that the consumers profile of the company had reduced from 20, 000 to 7,000 because of damaged water pipes.
Usoro expressed optimism that if the pipes were replaced, the company would generate about N100 million in revenue in 2015.
Reports state that the state water company was meant to run commercially but it is currently funded by the state government.