By; AHMAD SULEIMAN, Kano
In an attempt to overhaul water supply system in Kano State, particularly within the eight metropolitan local government areas, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje met with critical stakeholders, rubbed minds and proffered immediate, short term and long term solutions.
At the special meeting with critical stakeholders, the governor was represented by his deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, at office Chamber, Government House, Kano.
Most senior officials from state’s Ministry of Water Resources, Water Board, Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA), chairmen of the eight metropolitan local council areas, special advisers to the governor on special services and local government and chieftaincy affairs, among others, were present at the meeting.
He ordered for immediate and more critical evaluation of the collaboration between state government and France, through French Development on Water Project, a multi million Dollar intervention.
A gigantic project which is aimed at ameliorating problems associated with water supply and management in the state, with a global and modern touch.
When the project takes off, the state government assured that it would take care of all major setbacks in the industry.
For another long term solution, he directed an immediate revisit of two major concessions with some companies the state entered on water projects in Joda and Wudil towns.
Governor Ganduje directed RUWASA to immediately swing into action and come up with the precise number of boreholes that need repairs and all those that are not in use for immediate government intervention.
“RUWASA should also take an inventory of specific areas across the 44 local government areas that need boreholes, bearing in mind some implications of rampant boreholes to environment,” he directed.
Distribution of water in tanks to some specific locations within the metropolitan local government areas by the state government in collaboration with the eight local council areas was also considered as one of the immediate solutions, particularly in the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Some major challenges to uninterrupted water supply were identified as cable theft by some vandals, epileptic and insufficient power supply, some unpatriotic activities taking place in Kano and Challawa rivers and non-challant attitudes of some water consumers, among others.
Assuring that, “We will do our best to make sure that security around water equipment is tightened and whoever is found wanting will face the wrath of the law. We are strategizing on that seriously.
“While government is devising mechanisms on heavy duty water equipments, high-powered generators, controlling cable theft, among others, we are assuring our people that, what we have on the table, are short term, mid-term and long term interventions.”
