Introduction
My name is Pastor Darlington Osondu, the pastor in charge of Osondu Foundation
situated at Plot 137 Babs Animashaun road, off Bode Thomas street, Surulere
Lagos Nigeria. I grew up in a rural community in Ibeme, Ugiri, Isiala Mbano LGA
Imo state Nigeria. I am 55 years old. In this particular community called
Ibeme, while we were growing up, there was no electricity or pipe borne water
as this was applicable to all the communities in Ugiri constituency. We used to
trek to and fro for approximately 30KM (Thirty kilometers) from my kindred to
the only stream that serves the whole of Ugiri constituency till date
As I write the gullies that surround the stream are more than three storey
building each. The road is slippery and almost impassable, full of wild animals
and reptiles. Many times there were efforts made by different governments both
military and civilian regimes to provide pipe born water to this constituency
to no avail. As a matter of fact it has always been a perennial campaign
promise since 1999 when democracy was reintroduced in Nigeria.Yet all these
communities are yet to see any dividend of democracy in this direction.
This stream popularly called Mbaa river continues to be the only source of
water for drinking and washing to the entire constituency till date. Though
some individual efforts have been made to drill boreholes but the cost of
maintenance has been a huge challenge. Though the constituency is said to be
electrified but it is on record that they have guaranteed power supply less
than one hour, two or three times a year. Those who have boreholes now resort
to selling the water for about 20 Naira per keg which is a huge amount to the
rural dwellers to afford on daily basis.
I have always had the desire to solve this problem for this constituency but
paucity of funds has been the bane. However in the year 2013 Osondu Foundation
decided to start a pilot project of pipe borne water provision in Ibeme. We
opened a borehole that has been providing FREE drinkable water for at least 5
neighboring kindreds 24 hours daily. For the past 6 years we have made sure (at
a great cost though) that there is constant water supply for these nearby
kindreds which are, Umuezeala Oka, Umuwuoha Oka, Amaorji and Ituohia kindreds
all in Imo state Nigeria. Because of the overwhelming testimonies that keep
flowing from these kindreds, we have had the increased desire to extend this
gesture to many other kindreds in Ugiri constituency but it has not been
possible due to paucity of funds. In 2016 I was moved to tears when one of the
kindreds assembled both men and women to pay me a "thank you" visit. They
brought heads of plantain, palm oil etc just to mention but a few.
Cost implications per kindred for the 50 kindreds
1) Cost of drilling the borehole per kindred ---------------------- $7,500
2) Water storage ( reservoir) including steel stands and eight 1000 liter
containers per kindred ----------------- $6000
3) Electricity ( Solar energy preferable) per village-------$75,000
4) Staff emolument per kindred average of five workers at $200 (Two hundred)
per month for 1 calendar year ---------- $12,000
5) Emoluments for supervisory staff of minimum 10 workers at $300(three
hundred) per month for a year --------------- $36,000
In case it will be possible to provide water for the 50 kindreds, the following
must be put in place
6) Cost of a plot of land for office space ------------------ $20,000
7) cost of building a supervisory office space ------------ $100,000
8) Office furniture and maintenance ------------------------ $20,000
9) supervisory vehicles 2 Hilux trucks 4x4 (2.8 diesel 6 SP Man) --------
$116,880
10) Incidentals --------------------- $15,000
The above stated proposal is what it takes to give pipe borne water to a
kindred. The supervisory expenses are what will be needed to coordinate the
entire 50 kindreds in Ugiri constituency. The above given information is
verifiable. If this proposal is kindly considered I will make available Osondu
Foundation domiciliary account for remittances as decided by the sponsors.
You may choose to take care of one or more of the lists above in order to
enable us help this poor women and children.
NB: We are ready to forward a complete feasibility study on your request.
Thanks,
Pastor Darlington Osondu
For and on behalf of Osondu Foundation
