The Katsina State Government has said it expended over N5.8 billion to construct and rehabilitate dams and water schemes with the view to providing water for consumption and irrigation activities in the state.

Deputy Governor of the state, Farouk Jobe, who stated this while briefing newsmen on Sunday, also said a sum of N2.3 billion was expended to provide water for rural communities across the state’s 34 councils.

The expenditure covered the period from when the current government came into office in 2023 to date.

He said part of the water scheme also included provisions for urban communities, with additional projects still ongoing to ensure many more people are provided with water.

Jobe noted key projects such as the completion of the Danja Dam, the rehabilitation of the Yashe Earth Dam in Kusada, and the upgrade of the Musawa water supply scheme. Other initiatives include the procurement of equipment for the Ajiwa Water Scheme, including a 80-kilowatt submersible pump and valves to enhance the system.

“In line with the popular saying that Water is Life, the government has invested a huge amount of money to the tune of N5,887,551,840.14 through the Ministry of Water Resources to construct and rehabilitate dams and water schemes with a view to providing adequate and quality water for human consumption and irrigation activities.

“Consequently, the government has completed the construction of Danja Dam and provided access roads, as well as rehabilitated the Yashe Earth Dam in Kusada Local Government. The treatment process units, laboratory, admin block, and workshop at Batagarawa were also rehabilitated.

“In addition, the upgrade of the Musawa water supply scheme was completed. The government has also procured one 80-kilowatt submersible pump and 121 valves to enhance the Ajiwa Water Scheme. Furthermore, a 7.5 MVA/33KV/11KV transformer was procured and installed at the Ajiwa water treatment plant,” he said.

He added that N14.47 billion was allocated through the Katsina State Water Board for water supply projects in various urban areas, with ongoing works in towns like Katsina, Malumfashi, and Funtua. With the government also extending its efforts to health institutions, ensuring reliable water supplies at several hospitals.

“Under the Katsina State Water Board, the sum of N14,474,896,611.92 was injected for the provision of water supply at various locations financed by the State and the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH).

“These include the completion of the supply of water to Tudun Matawalle, Sardauna Estate, Fatima Shema Estate, Ambassador Quarters, FMC Quarters, and Batagarawa town.

“Works are currently ongoing for the provision and supply of water to Dutsen Safe Low-cost, Rahamawa/Abattoir, Sabuwar Unguwa, Tudun ‘Yanlihidda, Bayan NYSC, Barhim Estate, NLC Quarters, Kofar Durbi, Makera Estate, Saulawa, Tudun Wada, Rafindadi, and other locations in Katsina Local Government.

“Similar ongoing water supply projects include KTARDA Quarters, Bayan Kasuwa, Borin Dawa, Shema Quarters, in Malumfashi Local Government Area. There are also ongoing water supply projects in Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, Makera, Kasuwar Mata, and other locations in Funtua Local Government Area.

“The construction of two Ground Tanks with a capacity of 450 mill cubes at Tayoyi in Katsina Local Government and the construction of a booster station at Tsanni in Batagarawa Local Government has also been completed.

“The government has also successfully purchased the Renewable Energy Water Supply component from Germany for the Ajiwa Water Treatment Plant,” he said.

Jobe said the water supply scheme was also extended to health institutions in the state. He added that in order to ensure constant water supply to our health institutions, the government has completed the supply of water projects to Mani General Hospital, Dialysis Centre at General Ahmadi Rimi Specialist Hospital, Katsina, and the School of Nursing at General Hospital Katsina.

According tto him, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) spent N2.36 billion on rural water schemes, including the construction of boreholes and water facilities in numerous local government areas.

He added that the government has been involved in special federal interventions for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities in 16 local councils, ensuring the sustainability of these projects through the establishment of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMS).

“Similar water supply projects are ongoing at General Hospital Charanchi, Amadi Rimi Orthopedic Hospital Batagarawa, and Kafur General Hospital. This administration has also completed the project for the improvement of water supply projects at General Muhammadu Buhari House (Government House), Katsina.

“Similarly, the State Government has, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), spent the sum of N2,361,304,622.39 to undertake numerous water supply schemes in our rural areas.

“These projects include the provision of 120 hand pump boreholes for communities, as well as 25 solar-powered boreholes for primary schools and health centers in Baure, Batagarawa, Daura, Funtua, Kafur, and Katsina Local Government Areas, which have been completed.

“While another 50 hand pumps and 46 solar-powered boreholes for communities, as well as 20 WASH facilities for primary schools and health centers, are ongoing in 8 Local Government Areas of Batagarawa, Baure, Charanchi, Daura, Funtua, Kafur, Kankara, and Malumfashi.

“The state government has also promptly responded to a demand by a community of Kindigi in Mashi Local Government Area by providing them with a 24,000-liter solar-powered water supply scheme and VIP latrines for the community.

“Furthermore, the sum of N1,113,785,020.43 was expended as a special intervention from the Federal Government of Nigeria and International Development Partners for the provision of WASH facilities in 16 Local Government Areas of Bindawa, Danja, Daura, Dutsi, Funtua, Mashi, Kankia, Kusada, Batsari, Jibia, Kurfi, Baure, Kankara, Katsina, Mani, and Rimi.

“To ensure sustainability of the facilities provided, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMS) were established for proper upkeep. Also, the beneficiaries were trained and provided with simple repair tools for routine maintenance of the hand pumps.

“In the efforts of this administration towards the provision of portable water supply in the rural areas, the Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STOWASSA) was established.

“To this end, works are ongoing for the supply of portable water to 21 Small Towns across Batagarawa, Baure, Daura, Charanchi, Funtua, Kafur, and Kankara Local Government Areas at the total sum of N10,249,172,018.53.

“This initiative is expected to provide clean and portable water to 182,000 people across the LGAs. The government has also completed the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply schemes in Baure Local Government and Tudun Iya in Funtua Local Government at the cost of N962,070,881.60.

“The projects, which include the construction of overhead and ground tanks, installation of solar systems with back-up, drilling of productive boreholes, laying of pipelines, and erection of public stand posts for communal access, are expected to provide safe drinking water to 21,000 beneficiaries,” he added.