By Obinwa Chikaodili
The Anambra State Urban Water Assets Holding Corporation (ASUWAHC), has partnered with stakeholders and security agencies to develop a multi agency strategy for protecting critical water infrastructure in Onitsha.
The initiative followed a stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Officer-in-charge of ASUWAHC, Mrs. Emmanuella Okafor, on Aug. 27 in collaboration with the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Casmir Chinenye Agummadu, and the Head of Onitsha Zone and Engineering and Design Department, Engr. Francis Chiemeka Udoh.
The meeting focused on the Crash Programme Component of the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme and sought to develop a coordinated and sustainable security framework against vandalism, theft and other threats to water supply operations.
Participants included the Onitsha Ado Progressive Union, represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Melvin Mkpulumma; the Special Anti Touting Squad Agency (SASA), represented by Messrs Henry Ezeani, Ebuka Igwebuike and Chinedu Felix Mbanekwu; Ocha Brigade, represented by its Onitsha Commander, Mr. Emmanuel Okechukwu; and Ovaman Pumps Ltd., represented by Engr. Humphrey Ugwu and Engr. Daniel Udokwu.
The stakeholders deliberated on the security challenges confronting the water scheme and the need for a unified approach to protecting the facilities.
At the end of the meeting, they agreed to adopt a multi agency and multi stakeholder security arrangement, with participating agencies, community representatives and technical partners pledging to work together to implement the framework.
The strategy is expected to strengthen surveillance, improve rapid response and enhance preventive measures around ASUWAHC’s critical water assets, while encouraging community participation in protecting public infrastructure.
The stakeholders commended Okafor for initiating the engagement, describing it as a proactive and inclusive approach that would help protect government investments in the water sector and support efforts to improve water supply and service delivery.
The engagement forms part of ASUWAHC’s broader water solution roadmap and reinforces its commitment to protecting critical water infrastructure through strategic partnerships, community engagement and effective multi agency collaboration.
Obinwa Chikaodili is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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