Kano State Government has spent N5.6 billion to complete abandoned projects and construct new water pipes to ensure increased distribution of water across the state in the past one year.
Briefing reporters in Kano, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Bala Mohammed Gwagwaruwa, said the government inherited many abandoned projects from the last administration.
“It is pertinent to refresh your memory. Before we took over the mantle of leadership, the situation at the water corporation was very pathetic and disheartening to the extent that only the water works at Challawa was partially functioning.
“The power situation at Challawa was also frustrating because out of the six generators, only two were functioning. This seriously affected the supply capacity of the water works,” he noted.
According to him, the bulk of the expenditure was used for maintenance services at the Challawa Water Works and Tamburawa Water Plant, adding that the ministry also carried out comprehensive laying of pipes to meet the target of pumping over 350 million litres of water to Kano indigenes before 2015.
Gwagwaruwa said the projects carried out by the ministry within the period under review included rehabilitation of number six water intake, sand bagging of the coffer dam, procurement and installation of six KJI pumps to supply energy to two water works.
The commissioner said apart from procuring generators to power the water works for adequate water supply to the state following the epileptic power supply by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the ministry also engaged in repair of pneumatic system for the rapid sand filters and activation of surge tanks for the high lift pumping station at the water plants.
According to him, the previous administration under the state Water Board generated N32 million monthly as revenue, “while within eight months of the Kwankwaso administration, we have been able to generate N82 million as revenue on a monthly basis.”
Gwagwaruwa said the ministry absorbed about 1,000 applicants as casual staff on the payroll of the Water Board, “and I must tell you that this has not only improved the working ability in the board, it has also reduced unemployment.”
He urged Kano residents to pay their water bills promptly, to complement the state government’s desire to ensure adequate and steady water supply to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
TheNation