Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has flagged off an N11.491.209, 339. 96 rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade of the Gombe Regional Water Supply Project, aimed at addressing water and sanitation challenges in the state.
The expansion of the Gombe Regional Water Supply project will specifically create five additional booster stations across a 165-kilometre distribution network, so as to connect under-served communities and construct several boreholes to bridge the supply gap from the Dadin-Kowa water plant.
The project, in partnership with the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, targets addressing water and sanitation challenges in the state.
Governor Yahaya said his administration had shown commitment to addressing water shortages in both urban and rural areas, particularly with its deliberate articulation in the 10-year development plan, DEVAGOM, because it understood the significance of sustainable water supply to the livelihood and well-being of the people.
“Over the past 3-and-half years, we, through RUWASSA and other projects, built and rehabilitated over 600 boreholes across our 11 local government areas. We are also partnering with the federal government and donor agencies through initiatives like SURWASH and PEWASH in order to deliver sustainable water and sanitation facilities across the State, in line with sustainable development goal number 6,” said Governor Yahaya.
He said the move to increase the water supply to the residents of Gombe State was necessitated by the increase in the population of Gombe State from 2.6 million people to 3.6 million people, due to the influx of people into that state, which had had tremendous pressure on the provision of basic social services.
“Today, our population has grown to over 3.6 million and most of this growth has occurred within the Gombe metropolis and its surrounding communities. Gombe’s phenomenal growth is largely attributable to rapid urbanization as well as the influx of people fleeing the Boko Haram insurgency from frontline states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.”
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, said the project was in partnership with Gombe State Government, with 70%-30% sharing cost.
He explained that the Gombe State Government would provide the 70% funding, which stands at 8 billion, 43 million, 846 thousand 537 naira and 97 kobo and the Federal Government’s funding of 30% would be 3 billion, 447 million, 362 thousand 801 naira 98 kobo.
“In addition, the Gombe State Government is bearing the cost of the consultative services in the sum of 419 million163 thousand 985 naira 79 kobo,” Mr Adamu said.
He called on the people of Gombe State to own the project by ensuring its protection against vandalism and any form of misuse so that the expected benefits would reach the people.
“Breaking of pipes, illegal connections, and not paying for the water, but you are ready to pay for credit on your telephone when you have exhausted our credit, but you do not see the importance of water which constitute over 90% of your body, which is the second most important element for survival.
I think we should stop paying lip service to water and take water given the importance it deserves.” The Minister added.
He gave assurances that the Federal Government would continue to support willing states to provide services to the people for their benefit.
While giving an overview of the project, the Director of Water Supply at the Gombe State Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Danjuma Madaki, said the constructions to be carried out under the project would include 3 Booster stations in Tumfure, NTA and the Special Development Zone, communities that comprise Pipeline works, construction of 500ms Braithwaite tank on 12m stanchion at the International Conference Centre, as well as the construction of 3No. Solar-powered boreholes 200m Braithwaite surface tank, among others.
The Traditional Ruler of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, said the water project marked an important milestone in the development of Gombe State in helping households within the state for domestic and commercial use.
“The project will provide opportunities for our local friends and also job opportunities for our teeming youth population,” the Emir of Gombe said.
He called on community leaders to ensure they check all possible avenues of sabotaging the good intentions of the government, while also calling on the people of Gombe State to give the government and contractors the needed support.
PIAK
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