Ossy Prestige commissions water project in Aba Prison

The member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives under All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Rtn. Ossy Prestige has commissioned over 1000 liters of water storage reservoir in the Aba federal prison.

Infonet9ja.com gathered that inmates of the Aba correctional facility and staff of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) have been having challenge of adequate water supply over the years, while efforts to get government at the local and state level to come to the aid of the yard have been fruitless.

Sources at the prison disclosed that it was always a sad tale when inmates could not get water to bath, wash their clothes and to cook their foods.

The source who pleaded not to be mentioned told this platform that the prison officials resort to sourcing water from a borehole located outside the facility to at least cook food for the disadvantaged members of the public.

The source stated that the case were worsened due to the breakdown of the only available generating set they could have used in pumping water into two storage tanks that doesn’t serve them.

The source who feared outbreak of disease in the facility as a result of water scarcity, however expressed joy that the water reservoir built by Prestige would help to solve the issue of occasional water scarcity in the facility.

The commissioning which took place on Thursday August 25, attracted the presence of the honourable member representing Aba South State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Oba.

Speaking at the event Prestige said that he was touched over the situation faced by the inmates and staff of the facility on his last visit to the prison that were faced with inadequate water supply.

The Aba North and South federal lawmaker also used the opportunity to promise supply of mattresses and mats, added that he would continue to assist the NPS Aba in meeting some of their needs that are within his ambit.

Water is life. Without water I don’t think that life is worth living. So, when I heard about their challenge, I didn’t hesitate to come down to take care of that particular challenge that they have, which is water.

You know also that I have this water project all over my constituency and I take this as one of those projects that I should cite in my constituency, especially where you have inmates that need to keep the environment clean.

“I wish that you came here when there is no water, you will never want to come here because you can’t even breathe for two minutes.

“It is because there is water that they have been able to keep the place neat and decent. So you cannot quantify what water can do in people’s life not to talk of those who are incarcerated; they are just here.

“So, I see it as something that is very important and urgent as it were and I attended to it with that matter of urgency that it deserves.

“I was here in 2016 where we made a lot of donation to the inmates. Here again in 2018, we are here and having commissioned this, we are going to bring in some reasonable quantity of mattresses and mats.

“There are two female inmates affected during the collapse of the prison wall which fell on them. I made a pledge to assist in paying their hospital bills. One of them, I have been told will be discharged this week.

“I will also ensure that I contributed my quota in ensuring that the work going on in their chapel will be completed so that they can go ahead and worship God. I am sure that most of them through worshipping God will repent and live a good life.”

In his speech, the Deputy Comptroller and Head of Aba Prisons, DCP Samuel Aniekwe recalled how they have been suffering from water scarcity before the intervention from Prestige.

Aniekwe stated that he was happy that the facility has overcome water inadequacy in the facility and added that there has been relative peace and cordial relationship between the inmates and staff since he assumed office as the head of the facility.

He appealed to government to come to their aid and called on individuals and organizations to continue in their support to the facility.

“This prison wasn’t that okay when I resumed, compared with what it is today. When I came in, the worst challenge that I have was water. When there is scarcity of water, you see people sick every day. It was while I was thinking on how to solve that problem that I heard about Ossy Prestige whom they said have been able to provide free transport to students who cannot pay for their transport to and fro school.

It was when he came to see things for himself when wind that destroyed, that I used the opportunity to mention to him our water challenge. Out of every other person in this state, he was the only person that came to identify with us. Ossy assisted in erecting what you have seen today that is being commissioned.

“There is no fighting in the yard. Everyone is at liberty to lay his or her complaint. There is enough food; there are bags of rice that are being meant for inmates. They have access to good health; drugs are being supplied by some people that have the feelings to do so. NGOs are trying their best. Some medical doctors do come here to carryout surgeries such as hernia and others free of charge.

“With the corporation of the staff and inmates there is nothing that we needed here that is not being provided for and with the corporation I have with my staff and the inmates, everybody is as free as air.