In a video that has now gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) a man was spotted using kegs to refill a water fountain erected at Ochanja roundabout in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The fountain, had been erected in March, when Governor Charles Soludo had the idea to transform the area from a refuse dump site but now, according to the video making rounds on the internet, it is now devoid of water.
What They’re Saying:
A prominent X user, Chude Nnamdi, @chude_, who shared the video to the platform had posted;
“Water fountain is one of the most hardest structures to maintain, particularly in a country where there’s no steady electricity.”
“When Soludo began building this Water Fountain at the Ochanja Roundabout, a lot of us pointed this out. Now, take a look at the mediocre project after a few months of commissioning.
Chude had gone further to state that a “simple” flyover would have been a much better option than the water fountain that was constructed.
Another X user, DonRitzy had replied to Chude’s post, saying “Wait till they turn the water fountain to refuse dump. I’m sure it will happen soonest. Once that Ochanja flood dump refuse there and if government didn’t hurriedly remove the refuse, I trust my Onitsha Ochanja people.”
How Did Soludo Get it All Wrong?
The idea to build the water fountain in Ochanja Market, Onitsha is very misguided for several reasons.
Firstly, water fountains are imfastructures that demand consistent maintenance, especially in environments lacking reliable electricity, as highlighted by the X user, Chude Nnamdi. Since Nigeria is prone to frequent power outages, there is a rightful concern about the long-term sustainability of such a project in the regards to the country’s infrastructural challenges.
Secondly, it is very likely that the hasty transformation from a refuse dump site to a decorative feature may not have properly addressed the underlying issues of waste management in the area. The more astute decision the government should have taken in the scenario, would have been to invest in a more practical solutions, such as a flyover, as suggested by Chude.
A flyover would have better served the community’s needs while avoiding the potential pitfalls associated with maintaining ornamental structures.
Bottom Line
Governor Soludo’s decision to build a water fountain in Onitsha, Nigeria, has undoubtedly backfired.
The fountain, which was meant to improve the area, now sits dry just a few months after being unveiled.
Social media users and citizens at large are criticizing this choice, saying it’s hard to maintain and not the best solution for the area’s problems and have pointed out that a flyover would have been more practical and useful for the community.
