The Governor noted that host communities do not get ownership of project after commissioning because of the way they were designed without their full participation. According to him, “If you make sure they have the basic capacity to ownership and conceiving maintenance, it will achieve its objective of serving the people”.
On agriculture, the Governor observed that the current posture of the authority should be reviewed and looked more closely into with the full participation of the private sector.
“The right partnership will go a long way because the private sector has the capacity and resources to create the necessary impact”, he said. He further remarked that though the role of the BDA cannot be over emphasized, it is important that the State partners with it to serve the people, even as it is currently collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to ensure that water is provided to some communities in the State.
Imoke, who commended the Board for its commitment to improving service delivery, said he was pleased that the State has a fair share of its projects and appealed that the projects be completed within the tenure of the present administration, because some of the projects are over 20years old.
Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Directors Cross River State Basin Development Authority, Hon. Mike Nku, said the BDA in the State is saddled with the responsibility of constructing dams, irrigation, boreholes and tackling flood and water menace under its water resources scheme in different parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Nku disclosed that the BDA is working in close relationship with the State Ministry of Water Resources to avoid duplication.He however, explained that the major challenge which they face is the vandalization of projects in various communities after commissioning.
