Governor Peter Mbah and French Ambassador Marc Fonbaustier have launched a major water infrastructure project in Enugu, reinforcing bilateral partnerships while targeting reliable water supply across the state capital.
ENUGU, Nigeria – Governor Peter Mbah, alongside French Ambassador Marc Fonbaustier, has flagged off the construction of a 14.5-kilometre high-capacity transmission pipeline aimed at significantly improving water supply across Enugu metropolis.
The project, stretching from Nsude to the Terminal Reservoir at Miliken Hill, is designed to strengthen the state’s water distribution network and ensure consistent access to potable water for residents, businesses, and institutions.
Backed by the French Development Agency under the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme, the initiative marks a critical phase in the administration’s broader infrastructure drive.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah described the project as a decisive intervention to resolve longstanding water challenges and expand access to safe supply.
“For too long, access to clean water has been a challenge. We are now changing that reality permanently,” Onyia said, noting that the pipeline would reinforce the distribution backbone and improve efficiency across the city.
The governor emphasized that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure, linking it directly to public health, economic growth, and improved living standards. He highlighted the role of reliable water supply in reducing waterborne diseases and supporting commercial activities.
Earlier, during a meeting with the ambassador, Mbah revealed that the state had increased water production from two million litres to 120 million litres daily within 180 days, while addressing downstream bottlenecks through the replacement of outdated asbestos pipes with ductile iron alternatives.
He acknowledged the high cost of infrastructure upgrades but defended the decision to avoid demolishing buildings constructed along pipeline routes, stressing a pragmatic approach to development.
“If residents do not get water when they turn on their taps, production figures mean nothing,” he said, calling for increased private sector participation to accelerate downstream distribution.
Fonbaustier, in his remarks, said France had invested about $340 million in Nigeria’s urban water sector over the past decade, underscoring the strategic importance of the Enugu project as a model of bilateral cooperation.
“This reflects strong Franco-Nigerian collaboration, combining expertise from both countries to deliver quality infrastructure while promoting knowledge transfer and local capacity building,” he said.
The envoy also commended Mbah’s leadership, describing him as “a transformer and an entrepreneur,” citing rapid developments in aviation, transport, and infrastructure within a short period.
He expressed France’s readiness to deepen partnerships with Enugu State across key sectors including education, agriculture, and culture.
Officials at the event, including the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Ben Collins Ndu Jr., and Managing Director of Enugu Water Corporation, Dr. Michael Nwachukwu, praised the French government’s continued support.
Meanwhile, the contractor, TLD Global Services Ltd., assured stakeholders of timely delivery and adherence to high construction standards, reinforcing confidence in the project’s execution.
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