Enugu secures $100million Austrian funding to rework water infrastructure 

The Enugu State Authorities has signed a landmark $100 million settlement with Austrian agency WANDE NEXUS to overtake its water infrastructure, aiming to ship sustainable and equitable entry throughout the state.

The deal, formalized on the Authorities Home on December 2, was attended by the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Thomas Schlesinger, and represents a major enhance to the state’s growth agenda.

Governor Peter Mbah described the partnership as a transformative milestone, showcasing the success of his administration’s efforts to draw international direct funding (FDI).

“This $100 million funding addresses important last-mile connectivity points in our water system,” Mbah mentioned. “It’s a testomony to the financial reforms at each the federal and state ranges, positioning Enugu as a premier funding vacation spot.” 

The governor emphasised that the settlement was not exploratory however a definitive step towards implementation, with funds able to stream. Below his administration, water manufacturing has already elevated considerably, from a sporadic two million litres per day to 120 million litres. Nevertheless, Mbah famous that distribution stays a problem, significantly in increasing the community to attach tertiary pipelines to households.

“This settlement will clear up our downstream water points, making certain that each residence has entry to wash, dependable water,” Mbah added.

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Ambassador Schlesinger praised the governor’s imaginative and prescient and dedication to enhancing public utilities. “Governor Mbah’s dedication to modernizing Enugu’s water programs is exemplary.

His energetic engagement with Austria, together with conferences in Vienna with ministers and enterprise leaders, has laid the muse for this funding,” Schlesinger mentioned.

• He additionally lauded the management of Dr. Ugochukwu Ugbor, Chairman of WANDE NEXUS Group, expressing confidence within the agency’s capability to ship on the undertaking.
• Dr. Ugbor highlighted the favorable funding local weather created by the Mbah administration, which inspired the agency and its Austrian companions to decide to the undertaking. “This initiative will create 500 direct jobs, improve human capital in water administration, and considerably enhance well being outcomes and financial alternatives for Enugu residents,” Ugbor mentioned.
• The undertaking’s scope consists of implementing the Sustainable Final Mile Connectivity and Superior Metering Infrastructure (AMI), leveraging cutting-edge know-how to enhance effectivity and develop entry.
• Mbah’s administration has prioritized infrastructure growth as a part of its broader technique to place Enugu as a mannequin for sustainable development. The partnership with WANDE NEXUS represents a step towards attaining this aim, with long-term advantages anticipated to ripple throughout well being, financial, and social sectors.

This collaboration not solely alerts Enugu’s rising profile amongst worldwide buyers but additionally underscores the potential for public-private partnerships to drive transformative growth in Nigeria.