Enugu Signs $100m Water Infrastructure Deal with Austrian Firm

The government of Enugu State has signed a $100m deal with Austrian firm, WANDE NEXUS, to execute the Sustainable Last Mile Connectivity and Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project in Enugu.

The signing took place at the Government House, Enugu, with the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Thomas Schlesinger, present.

The firm will now be funding the project by way of Foreign Direct Investment to upgrade water infrastructure in the state.

Also Read: FG Powers 3000 Enugu Households with Solar Energy Mini Grid

Governor Peter Mbah, who was pleased with the deal, said it will benefit the good people of the state and make water accessible to them.

“We now have an investment of $100m to deal decisively with the last mile connection, the downstream part of our water system.

“This huge sum shows that the economic reforms of the Federal Government and our effort to position Enugu as the premier destination for investment are yielding results because this is a major FDI, not just for us as a state, but even as a country.

“For the record, this is not a case where we are just signing an exploratory agreement.

“This is an agreement for funds to begin to flow,” Mbah said.

According to the Governor, water production has increased from two million litres to 120 million litres daily.

He, however, noted that network expansion and connecting the tertiary pipelines to the different homes remained a challenge.

“But with the signing of the FDI agreement, the problem will become a thing of the past as this is purely an investment of $100m being injected in our downstream water sector,” the governor said.

Schlesinger also assured that the Austrian Government were fully in supprt of the investment.

“I wish to laud His Excellency, Peter Mbah, for his vision to transform the water management systems for Enugu City, with its ultimate goal of ensuring equitable access to clean water.

“Gov. Mbah is a great friend of Austria.

“He has visited Vienna twice, where he met with ministers, international organisations, and the business community; and he is a very active supporter of Austrian companies in Enugu.

“This investment in the amount of $100m is, therefore, a testimony of his excellent work and his vision for Enugu State,” he said.