Frank Nweke Jnr, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for Enugu State, says his administration will restore perennial water scarcity within 12 months in power.

Mr Nweke, a one-time information minister, made the promise during the unveiling of his manifesto at Polo Park, Enugu, on Saturday, saying that “water is life”.

The APGA candidate said the citizens had been experiencing hardship in getting tap water and, thereby, exposed to the high cost of tank water hawkers.

He promised to tackle the menace by partnering with experts and ensuring that different companies handled water supply in the state to elicit competition.

The candidate said the party manifesto focused on seven key thrusts: leadership, governance, security, human capital development, economic transformation, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, and technology and innovation.

Mr Nweke promised transformation of the state economy by making Enugu an investor-friendly and industrial destination.

“We will establish Enugu as a technology and innovation destination through the propagation of tech hubs and the related ecosystem activity that sustains them,” he said.

The state party chairman, Ndubuisi Enechionyia, earlier said the party wanted to rescue the state from collapsing.

Mr Enechionyia said the part course to take over the state’s leadership had been reinforced by the current government’s clear ineptitude in all governance aspects.

“From bad roads, teachers on strike, absence of Water, Security, Sanitation, healthcare, even the Judiciary, the situation of Enugu State has never been this bad.

“Today, we are taking a major step in rebuilding Enugu State to give the citizens all they deserved as the electorates,” Mr Elechionyia said.

(NAN)