Water Shortage: Worst Hit Environs Get Relief In Kano State

The Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje, has ordered the immediate deployment of water tankers to distribute water to worst hit environs in the State.

He also directed the Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) to immediately swing into action and identify the precise number of boreholes that need repairs and all those not in use for immediate intervention.

The decision came after a special meeting with critical stakeholders to rub minds and proffer immediate, short term and long term solutions to challenges of water shortages in the second biggest commercial city in Nigeria.

The State Governor represented by his Deputy Nasiru Gawuna at the meeting said the decisions were attempts to overhaul water supply system in Kano state, particulary within the 8 metropolitan local government areas.

“Distribution of water in tanks to some specific locations within the metropolitan local governments by the State government in good collaboration with the 8 local council areas was also considered as one of the immediate solutions, particularly in the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

“RUWASA should also take an inventory of specific areas across the 44 local governments that need boreholes, bearing in mind some implications of rampant boreholes to environment,” he directed.

He ordered the immediate and more critical evaluation of the collaboration between the State government and France, through the French Development on Water Project, a multi-million Dollar intervention.

“A gigantic project which aimed at ameliorating problems associated with water supply and management in the State, with a global and modern touch.

“When the project takes off, State government assured that, it would take care of all major setbacks in the industry,” he said.

For another long term solution, he directed the immediate revisit of two major concessions with some companies the State entered on water projects in Joda and Wudil towns.

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 attitude of some water consumers, among others.

“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 equipment, 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,” he added.