Sokoto Govt. earmarks N6bn to revamp 40-year-old water works
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
In its determined bid to improve water routine supply to the ever-increasing population of Sokoto metropolis and its environs, the state government says it has earmarked a humongous N6 billion to revamp the 40-year-old Sokoto Water Works.
“These are facilities that were almost non-existent, just dead and nearly moribund when we inherited them from the immediate past administration in May 2023.
“Out of utmost concern, the first point of visit of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, was the Sokoto State Water Board immediately he sworn in on May 29,2023.
“He did just to see the sorry state of the structures then and he immediately swung into action and the hitherto obnoxious situation is almost history now,” Alhaji Aminu Dodo Iya, the Iyan Sokoto, delightedly told newsmen in Sokoto on Monday.
The Iyan Sokoto, who is also the State Commissioner for Water Resources, was giving an update on the water supply situation to the Sokoto city and its environs.
He said, “So far, so good..We inherited almost a dead water works which had now been completely turned around for the better, courtesy of the tremendous and invaluable giant strides of our most amiable Governor.
“We are not there yet one hundred per cent but we are almost on the verge of ensuring that no resident of Sokoto city and its environs lack adequate potable water for 24 hours.”
The Commissioner further explained that the administration has been vigorously executing a myriad of urban, rural and semi-urban water schemes, adding, “most of them had since been fully revived across the state.”
As part of this noble gesture, Alhaji Aminu Dodo Iya added that the state government had since completed and fully energized no fewer than 31 solar-powered boreholes across Sokoto metropolis and its environs.
He further stated that the gesture is to ensure a 24-hour water supply and augment power supply from the usually epileptic supply from the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO).
Also, the Water Resources Commissioner said that all the existing boreholes had been fully revived, while others are ongoing, saying, “they will be changed to solar-powered.
” Some had since been commissioned while several others are in the pipeline of being inauguarated.”
On security, Alhaji Aminu Dodo Iya disclosed that the state government had since engaged the services of Jedo Security Firm to augment its official security personnel, with a view to providing security cover to all water supply facilities.
Also corroborating the submissions of the Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Ibrahim, said, ” We are too happy that the Governor is highly concerned with the water supply situation in Sokoto city and its environs as well as across the state.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that he achieves his aim of providing adequate potable water to all the residents of the city and its environs.”
While giving further updates, the General Manager, Sokoto State Water Board, Engr. Aminu Haruna Mika’ilu, said that Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto had since embarked on the installation of a 4.2 Megawatts Solar-power project to bolster supply.
According to him, all the equipment needed for the project had since been shipped to Nigeria and ferried to Sokoto, adding, “this is to ensure a 24-hour power supply to the water intake, water treatment and water distribution facilities.”
The General Manager added that the equipment included two giant Lithium batteries and inverters, while the Control Room had since been completed.
According to Engr. Aminu Haruna Mika’ilu, the construction of pillars for the installation of no fewer than 10,000 solar power panels has been ongoing smoothly.
He also disclosed that a proposal to rehabilitate and renew the decades-old water supply machines and other related accessories has been receiving the required urgent attention from Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
