Kano water rehabilitation projects to be completed by December — Commissioner

The Kano State Government has assured residents that ongoing rehabilitation of major water infrastructure across the state will be completed by December.

The Commissioner for Water, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Hashim, gave the assurance on Thursday during an inspection tour of the Challawa Water Treatment Plant and the 40-million-litre Goron Dutse Reservoir.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the state government contracted the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, to rehabilitate the major water treatment plants at Challawa, Tamburawa and Watari, as well as other substations across the state.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the facilities, Mr Hashim said he was impressed with the progress of work at the Challawa Water Treatment Plant.

He said all 16 filtration units at the plant had been restored, compared with only four that were functional before the rehabilitation commenced.

According to him, rehabilitation of the clarifiers is also ongoing, while the contractor has assured the government that most of the required replacements and maintenance works would be completed.

Mr Hashim said the ministry was also satisfied with ongoing maintenance of the manifold responsible for conveying treated water to Kano metropolis, as well as the high-lift pumps.

“We want to assure the public that this administration is very much committed to ensuring that this issue of water scarcity is brought to a complete halt,” he said.

The commissioner said the ministry would also inspect the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant as part of efforts to assess progress on the regional water scheme.

Mr Hashim disclosed that the government had restored the Buzu-Buzu water distribution station, which supplies communities in the Kabo and Rimin Gado areas.

He added that the Joda station, which supplies water to communities in Gabasawa, Gezawa and Minjibir, had also been restored, with rehabilitation work nearing completion.

The commissioner said Challawa Water Treatment Plant was producing only between 25 and 30 per cent of its capacity when the administration assumed office, due to years of deterioration.

“Challawa in total was providing only 25 to 30 per cent when we came in, due to the nature of the situation and how it worsened.

“But fortunately, now with the intervention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, there is now improved supply and production from Challawa and Watari as well as Tamburawa,” he said.

Mr Hashim said the government had extended the rehabilitation programme to existing water reservoirs to increase storage and distribution capacity across Kano metropolis.

He identified three major reservoirs being rehabilitated, including one constructed in 1930 and two others built in 1974 during the administration of former Kano State Governor Alhaji Audu Bako.

According to him, the reservoirs had remained largely unused for more than a decade because insufficient water was being supplied from Challawa.

He explained that the reservoirs were originally constructed to receive water from Challawa and distribute it to residents of metropolitan Kano.

Mr Hashim said the state government had, over the past six months, undertaken various rehabilitation works at the reservoirs, including desilting and replacement of old asbestos water pipes with steel pipes.

“You can see the number of contractors busy on site here. And it is our prayer, before the end of September, we should be able to have water here and supply it to the public,” he said.

He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for what he described as his commitment to addressing water shortages in the state.

The commissioner reiterated the government’s determination to meet the December deadline for completion of the rehabilitation projects.

He also urged residents to use water responsibly and protect water sources from contamination, saying public cooperation was necessary to sustain the government’s investment in the sector.

In his remarks, CCECC Project Manager, Tang Yiran, expressed confidence that the December completion target would be achieved.

Mr Yiran said work on the project was progressing steadily, adding that the company was working to ensure that the deadline was met.

He disclosed that transmission works would undergo test runs in September, while equipment being procured by the state government was expected to arrive in Kano soon.

“As soon as they arrive, installation works will commence and everything will be completed by December,” Mr Yiran assured.