The Port Harcourt Water Corporation has inaugurated the Rivers State WASH Media Network as part of a capacity-building workshop aimed at improving public awareness of the state’s public water supply project.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Managing Director of the Corporation, Chief Ibibia Walter, disclosed that although 73,000 water meters had been acquired, only about 600 households had so far been metered.
Walter said water is available and would soon be distributed to consumers, adding that household connections and the installation of customer water meters are ongoing across Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas.
He stressed that access to water goes beyond technical infrastructure, describing it as fundamental to public health, human dignity, economic productivity and quality of life.
Under the proposed tariff framework, Walter said treated and quality-assured public water is expected to cost approximately 16 to 20 naira per 20 litres. He said the arrangement would demonstrate how modern public water infrastructure could reduce household expenditure while improving access to safe and reliable water.
The Project Coordinator, Kabiru Ahmed-Rufai, assured residents that the water to be distributed would be clean and potable. He also appealed to the media to help educate the public about the project and its benefits.
A tour of the facilities was organised for media personnel across the two local government areas. The project has seen the laying of about 456 kilometres of pipelines and is being implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank and the Rivers State Government.
Distribution of water to consumers is expected to commence on September 20, 2026.
