FG REITERATES ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE POTABLE DRINKING WATER WITHIN GOMBE.
Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan
Federal Government has re-emphasized its determination to collaborate with state governments in providing clean and potable drinking water across the country.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu made this known during the flag-off ceremony of the rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade of the Gombe state regional water supply project held at the Tumfure booster station in Gombe.
According to the minister, the Federal Government under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari has given priority to water supply by coming up with policies and programs aimed at providing sufficient drinking water and hygiene for all Nigerians.
Engr. Suleiman Adamu also stated that on August 12, 2021, the Federal government and the Gombe State government signed a memorandum of understanding on the Gombe state water supply, rehabilitation and upgrade project based on the agreement that the state government will provide 70 per cent of the counterpart funding while the federal government will provide 30 per cent.
While urging the State Government to work hard to ensure the successful implementation of the project, Engr. Suleiman called on the people of Gombe state to stand firm in taking responsibility for the equipment to be provided and to pay their water bills regularly to achieve a sustainable water supply in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Gombe state Governor, Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya highlighted that his administration considers water supply as very essential for human life, which is why since his first 100 days in Office, he commissioned a task force and gave out a contract to improve water supply to solve the shortage at that time.
The governor added that the state government has achieved success in the provision of sufficient and clean water as a result of the contribution of the Federal Government and Donor Agencies.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Water Resources Gombe state, Engr. Mijinyawa Yahya said the project includes the construction of a booster station in Tumfure, a Special development zone and NTA, the contract also includes the laying of about 160km of pipes network in different parts of the state capital as well as rehabilitation of some of the existing water infrastructures.
The project is aimed at providing additional 11 million litres of water supply to the existing supply capacity of the scheme and pipe laying of more than 160 km within the Gombe metropolis and neighbouring communities.
It could be recalled that on the 11th of May last year, the state Governor Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahya during the State Executive Council meeting, made available the sum of over 11 billion naira for the rehabilitation and expansion of the water supply in Gombe with a completion period of 24 months.
