By Ogar Monday, House of Assembly Correspondent
The Managing Director, Cross River State Water Board Limited, Prof. Godwin Igile has said that the Cross River State Water Board has the capacity to become an “oil well” with the capacity to bring in millions monthly as revenue if its full potentials can be harnessed.
Prof. Igile made this known while rendering account of his board before the Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation on 2016 half year budget performance review.
Igile added that the company has the capacity to generate 150 million naira monthly from only Calabar and more than 6 billion naira across the State at a 30% optimal performance level and that countries like Uganda are making billions from the water sector alone.
He blamed the poor performance of the board on the consultants engaged by the government for water bill collection, saying the consultants, Techvibes International Limited are hindering the revenue drive of the board.
The MD who said 70% of water generated by the board is lost as non revenue waters because of activities like pipe burst, water stealing among others said that the Ikom, Ogoja, Obudu water project completed and ready for commission with that of Obubra and Okpoma in different stages of completion.
Earlier speaking, the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Eteng Williams (Yakurr II) said that the budget review is a core responsibility of the legislature and it is a duty that they will see to its fruition.
He decried the situation where Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) refuse to turn up for the review and vowed that the House will take drastic actions against such MDAs, saying they can’t be spending money and not expect to give public account of how such monies were spent.