By Tony Adibe
…Set To Begin Enforcement, Confiscation Of Erring Tankers
The Enugu State Government has issued the last warning to tanker drivers operating across the state concerning their failure to colour-coat their water tankers to indicate if they are carrying clean, safe drinking water or industrial water in line with the Enugu State Water Sector Law of 2023.
The government emphasised that the timeline and extension date set for the implementation of the law had since elapsed in March. At a meeting with the leadership of tanker drivers in Enugu over the weekend, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the government was committed to “protecting members of the public against exploitation by some dubious tanker drivers who fetch unclean water from unhealthy environment and sell to residents as safe-drinking water,”
Prof Onyia added that the state had already constituted a taskforce that would from time-to-time stop and inspect water being conveyed by the tanker drivers.
While reading the riot act to the association of tanker drivers in the state against the backdrop of consistent damage and sabotage of water facilities in the state and the severe punishment awaiting erring drivers, the SSG said despite efforts by the Governor Peter Mbah administration to make water available to the capital city which is already successful with its extension capacity cutting across sub-urban areas, the government had no intention of running tanker drivers out of their livelihoods as they could still be creative in their approach.
