Sokoto to Complete All Ongoing Water Projects before May 29
Mohammed Aminu The Sokoto state government has pledged to complete all ongoing water projects worth over N7.5 billion in the state before the expiration of its tenure by May 29, 2015.
The state Commissioner of Water Resources, Alhaji Shehu Tangaza, disclosed this to news men in Sokoto recently, while commenting on the water supply situation in the state.
He stated that almost all the affected projects had so far reached between 80 to 90 per cent completion stages.
Tangaza also maintained that the projects would be completed and inaugurated by Governor Aliyu Wamakko for the benefit of the people of the state.
He stated that the projects entailed the rehabilitation of four water works in Sokoto metropolis which included the Bi-water and the three old water works in the metropolis, which were expected to gulp about N1.9 billion.
According to him, this also includes the ongoing construction of the second phase of the Asare water supply project in Asare village of Wamakko local government area of the state.
The commissioner stated that the project entailed the construction of about 100 boreholes which would cumulatively provide about 40 million gallons of water per day.
Tangaza further said the projects were located in Runjin Sambo, Gagi, Mana, Tamaje, Rugar Liman and old airport, among other areas in the Sokoto metropolis.
He disclosed that the State Water Board presently provides about 70 million gallons of water per day to the residents of Sokoto and its environs.
“As you are aware, as soon as all these ongoing projects are completed and inaugurated next month, the Board will be able to provide about 110 million gallons of water per day to the residents of the Sokoto metropolis,” he added.
Water provision has been identified as one of the main indicators of development in Nigeria and it is being touted as one of the new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are to become an expanded version of the current eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).