President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that his administration will continue to focus on improving infrastructure development, including water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, in order to improve Nigerians’ living conditions.
This was stated in a press release issued by Mrs Kenechukwu Offie, Director (Press and Public Relations Unit), Federal Ministry of Water Resources, in Abuja on Friday.
Buhari made the pledge on Thursday in Dutsin – Ma, Katsina State, during the commissioning of the Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme, according to the release.
The President stated that access to adequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are all indicators of a country’s economic development.
Buhari praised the positive transformation that was taking place in the Water and Sanitation Sector, which was aimed at meeting the national goal of providing safe drinking water to all Nigerians.
The Minister of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, revealed in his address at the commissioning ceremony that the Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme had suffered a significant setback for over 25 years.
Adamu explained that this was due to the contract being awarded in 1992 but being stalled at 45% completion due to neglect and a lack of budget support until the current administration took over.
He stated that the scheme drew water from the Zobe multipurpose dam, which was completed in 1983 and has a reservoir capacity of 177 billion litres.
Adamu went on to say that the scheme had been completed to the highest standard, with a total capacity of 75 million litres of water per day.
He stated that it would serve a population of over one million people in Katsina and seven outlying communities, including Kankia, Kurfi, Kafin – Soli, Karofi, Radda, Charanchi, and Bindawa – Danmusa.
“The quality of the treated water from the scheme has been subjected to laboratory testing and found to be acceptable within the national and international standards for drinking water,” Adamu said.
The Minister emphasized that the Federal Government’s intervention in water supply was intended to speed up access to potable water.
He stated that once such intervention on a water facility was completed, it was usually handed over to the state government, local government, or community for operation and maintenance, depending on the nature and size of the facility.
“It is therefore the turn of Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme to be formally commissioned and handed over to Katsina State Government,” he noted.
Malam Aminu Masari, Governor of Katsina State, stated that the commissioning of the massive water supply project by President Buhari’s administration in the post COVID – 19 era was quite commendable.
Masari went on to say that it demonstrated the administration’s determination to address the issue of chronic water scarcity in Katsina State and other parts of the country.
Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, Emir of Katsina, expressed Gratitude to God for the scheme’s eventual completion and commissioning, praying that it would bring joy to all water users.
Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, the state’s Deputy Governor, thanked the Federal Government for the project’s completion and handover earlier in his speech.
Yakubu, who is also the Chairman of the Katsina State Committee on the Takeover, assured that the water supply scheme’s standard would be maintained at all times.
On the same day, the Minister, Malam Adamu, commissioned a Special Presidential Intervention water supply project in Gwaleda, Kunchi Local Government of Kano State, according to the press release.