In a major stride toward sustainable urban development, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a 14.5-kilometre high-capacity water transmission pipeline aimed at boosting potable water supply across Enugu metropolis.

The landmark project, stretching from Nsude to the Terminal Reservoir at Miliken Hill, is designed to significantly strengthen the city’s water distribution network, ensuring efficient and consistent delivery to homes, businesses, and institutions.

The initiative, supported by the French Development Agency under the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme, underscores the deepening cooperation between France and Enugu State across critical sectors, including aviation, education, agriculture, agro-industrialisation, and culture.

Represented at the groundbreaking ceremony by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah described the project as a decisive intervention in his administration’s commitment to ending water scarcity and delivering essential services to the people.

“For too long, access to clean water has been a challenge, but we are changing that narrative permanently,” he stated, emphasizing that the project goes beyond infrastructure to improving public health, stimulating economic growth, and restoring dignity to residents through reliable access to safe water.

Earlier, while receiving the French Ambassador, Mbah highlighted his administration’s rapid progress in addressing upstream water challenges, revealing that water production had surged from 2 million litres daily to 120 million litres within 180 days. He added that the government was simultaneously tackling downstream bottlenecks by replacing outdated asbestos pipes with durable ductile iron pipelines capable of withstanding increased pressure.

According to him, the administration has also taken a people-centered approach by avoiding widespread demolition of structures built along pipeline routes, opting instead for more sustainable engineering solutions despite the higher costs.

“We are not interested in excuses. What matters is that when residents turn their taps, water flows. That is the true measure of success,” Mbah stressed, while calling for increased private sector participation to accelerate downstream infrastructure delivery.

In his remarks, Ambassador Fonbaustier reaffirmed France’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s water sector, noting that over $340 million has been invested through the AFD in the past decade. He described the Nsude-Miliken Hill pipeline as a symbol of robust Franco-Nigerian collaboration, blending technical expertise with local capacity development.

The envoy did not hold back in praising Governor Mbah’s leadership style, describing him as “a transformer and an entrepreneur” driven by measurable impact and timely execution of projects.

“You are a leader obsessed with delivering results and basic services to your people. The pace and scale of transformation in Enugu State are remarkable,” he said, pointing to achievements in infrastructure, aviation, and public service delivery.

Stakeholders at the event, including the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Ben Collins Ndu Jr.; Managing Director of Enugu Water Corporation, Dr. Michael Nwachukwu; and Chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Hon. Hyginus Agu, commended the French Government for its continued support.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of TLD Global Services Ltd., Engr. Hilary Abaratu, assured that the project would be delivered on schedule and in line with global best practices.

The pipeline project marks yet another milestone in the Mbah administration’s aggressive infrastructure drive, reinforcing its vision to provide reliable utilities and position Enugu as a model of modern urban governance.