Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has assured residents of the Kano metropolis that the shortage of potable drinking water will be significantly reduced within the next few months as the government has intensified it’s restoration efforts.
The Governor gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the Challawa Water Works, located at Panshekara, Kumbotso Local Government Area on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement issued by Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Mustapha Muhammad on Wednesday.
The Governor has begun inspection of the water treatment plants yesterday (Tuesday) which he visited Tamburawa.
During the inspection, Governor Yusuf expressed concern that one of the three primary pumping lines is currently broken.
He assured that the new company engaged to overhaul the treatment plant would soon repair some for emergency pumping the water to the metropolis, after feasibility studies were concluded and agreement reached between the two bodies.
The governor explained that the company bestowed with the responsibility of rehabilitation of the water works are recognised worldwide and promised to do their best to resolve the shortage of water in nearest future.
He emphasised that government would do everything possible to rehabilitate the two giants water treatment plants in the metropolis even though their capacity could not solve the problem entirely considering the current population of the state of over 20 million people.
“When the Challawa Water Works was originally built during the reign of Emir Abdullahi Bayero, the population of Kano was approximately three million,” the Governor noted, emphasising that current capacities must be expanded to meet modern demands.
The Governor commended the staff of the water treatment plant for their dedication and urged them to remain steadfast in supporting the administration’s goal of ending the water shortage.
He stated that the inspection provided him with first-hand knowledge of the facility’s condition, for a more strategic approach to the overhaul.
At the moment the Challawa water treatment plant is supplying less than 40 percent of its total capacity.
Governor Yusuf was accompanied on the visit by Commissioner of Environment (overseeing the Ministry of Water Resources), Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Works and Commissioner of Power.
