Sokoto State Water Board Upgrades Facilities to Improve Water Supply
By: Ismail Umar, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Water Board, says it has expanded various water facilities to improve portable drinking water supply to consumers in the State.
General Manager of the Board, Alhaji Samaila Umar Sanda, stated this while briefing Journalists on the achievements and some challenges of the agency during the year 2021 in Sokoto State.
According to him, the board has carried out various upgrade projects, renovations and repairs of some facilities that includes rehabilitations of electric motors at the raw water sources intake which cost over N5.8million.
” Other upgraded facilities were the repairs of the generators at intake station at the cost of N32 million and repairs of electric transformer at Bio intake that gulped N5.4million as well as purchase of fuel pump for 2000KVA capacity generator at the cost of N3.1 million.”
” other ones were extension of portable water supply to five communities that includes Rijiya Dorawa, Gagi along Nakasari area, Kofar Kade area and Kofar Taramniya area all in Sokoto Metropolis,” the GM said.
Sanda Umar explained that state government provides over N150 million naira monthly for the purchase of chemicals, maintenance, other equipment to the state waterworks and for the improved supply of portable water to consumers.
He added that the monthly fund were also used for the purchased of water treatment chemicals, diesel and maintenance of other water facilities.
He noted that the state government under the able leadership of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at all time approves additional funds based on a request for the execution of other projects.
He added that despite various challenges the board were able to record many achievement in the provision of portable water supply.
Sanda Umar said despite successes recorded, he decried COVID-19 and inadequate water supply from the two main sources have also remained the major challenges facing the board.
He however explained the board proposed to provide two additional transformers and two generator sets in all the water stations in the 2022 budget to compliment the power supply from the National grid.
He maintained that the board would continue to take drastic measures against people found braking laws and those who default to sattle their monthly water bills in the state.
Sanda Umar urged consumers emphasised to resolve to focus on solving the lingering challenges in the general processing of portable drinking water for optimal efficiency, treatment and supply for public consumption across the state.
The General Manager commended Governor Tambuwal for his support towards assisting the board to realised it’s set objectives.
