The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, faced a public backlash on Friday during a church event when he attempted to defend the administration’s record on water infrastructure.
The incident occurred at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ogbete, Enugu, during the Third Session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese of Enugu.
Prof. Onyia, representing Governor Peter Mbah, took to the pulpit to provide a progress report on the administration’s performance. During his address, he touched upon the governor’s high-profile campaign pledge to provide pipe-borne water to every household in the state capital within the first 180 days of his tenure.
The SSG asserted that the government had successfully deployed the necessary infrastructure and claimed that potable water now flows to “so many places” and has effectively reached homes across Enugu.
The statement immediately drew a sharp reaction from the congregation, who interrupted the address with loud chants of “It’s a lie.” Despite the official’s attempts to calm the crowd and encourage them to verify his claims, the vocal opposition persisted. The disruption ultimately forced Prof. Onyia to abandon his speech and return to his seat.
The confrontation highlights growing tension between the state government and residents regarding the status of public utilities. While Governor Mbah had promised to end the perennial water scarcity in the region early in his administration, many residents report that the situation has seen little improvement.
Investigations suggest that water supply remains inconsistent, with many neighborhoods still lacking access to municipal water.
Consequently, a vast number of households continue to rely on private boreholes and commercial water vendors, often at a significantly higher financial cost.
Political observers suggest that the incident at the synod reflects broader public frustration over the discrepancy between official government reports and the daily realities faced by citizens in Enugu.
As of now, the state government has not issued a formal response to the events at the church.
