Cross River-based activist and social commentator, MC Okrika, has announced plans to restore a long-abandoned water project and renovate the health centre in Otere Community, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Okrika disclosed this while speaking in a video commentary after residents of Otere approached him over the community's lack of access to potable water.
According to him, the issue was brought to his attention several months ago when community members contacted him to complain about the water crisis in the area. He said he subsequently met with the former youth president of Otere, who confirmed that the community had been without functional water supply.
Okrika said the intervention followed a meeting with a businessman from Ikom, whom he approached about the water problem in the community. Rather than seeking personal financial assistance from the businessman, he said he decided to channel the support towards addressing the needs of Otere residents.
He explained that an existing government water project in the community had become dysfunctional and argued that reviving such projects would be more sustainable than abandoning them and constructing new ones.
“Instead of giving them another water, at least five million, six million naira to bring back that water to standard, solar, everything,” Okrika said, explaining the plan to restore the facility with a solar-powered system.
He also criticised what he described as the failure of community and political leaders to revive existing public infrastructure, saying abandoned government projects should be rehabilitated where possible rather than allowed to waste.
During a subsequent visit to the project site with engineers, Okrika inspected the water facility and also extended the intervention to the community's health centre.
He described the health centre as being in poor condition and said the renovation would cover areas requiring urgent attention.
According to him, the project will include the rehabilitation of the water facility, installation of necessary fittings, renovation of the sales point and provision of doors and taps, among other improvements.
He also directed the engineers to assess the health centre as part of the intervention, noting that the facility was poorly maintained despite the presence of prominent individuals from the community.
Okrika further said the intervention was part of his broader commitment to supporting communities in Ikom and the activities of the Ratel Movement, insisting that his involvement was not motivated by the desire for political recognition.
He disclosed that he had previously undertaken other projects in Ikom and said he was interested in initiatives that would directly improve the lives of residents.
The intervention comes alongside another project Okrika said he was supporting in Bendeghe, Etung Local Government Area, where he recently visited a school project reportedly supported by a businessman.
He expressed hope that work on the Otere water project would commence immediately and be completed within a short period, with plans to commission and hand over the facility to the community after completion.
The development is expected to provide relief to residents of Otere, who have reportedly struggled with access to functional water infrastructure for a prolonged period.
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