Gombe, FG inaugurate N11.4b booster water project in Tumfure
By Chima Azubuike
The Federal Government in a joint venture with Gombe State Government inaugurated N11.4 billion rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade of regional water project.
Disclosing this on Friday during the launch, Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said out of the contract sum Federal Government’s stake is 30 per cent, which is about N3 billion counterpart funding while the state has 70 per cent amounting to about N8 billion.
Adamu noted this was part of the Federal Government’s effort at ensuring the provision of pipe borne water to residents.
While urging residents to take ownership of the project by protecting the installations and equipment, the Minister said, “All our projects have been completed to 100 percent, non abandoned. We always finish and hand it over to communities to take care of it.if you see anything happening it’s after we had finished and handed it over to communities if they didn’t care to take care of it then it their own business.”
Adamu also debunked insinuations that the project is political, following the timeframe, adding that talks have been on, “this is not a political gimmick because discussion started way back 2020,2021 just that flagging off was not suitable for us and we are doing it now. People should not say because it campaign season it is not going to happen it is already happening,” Adamu added.
Also speaking, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya lauded the collaboration between Gombe State and Federal Government towards providing potable water supply to urban and rural areas.
Yahaya disclosed that his administration has constructed no fewer than 600 boreholes across the State.
He lamented that the need for water has been heightened by the security situation around other states, “As you all aware, the Dadin-Kowa Water Treatment Plant was commissioned about 15 years ago, when the population of Gombe State was around 2.6 million. Today, our population has grown to over 3.6 million and most of this growth has occurred within 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. This development puts tremendous pressure on the provision of basic social services like water, sanitation, health and education.”
“Water is life, Our administration understand the significance of sustainable water supply to the livelihood and wellbeing of our people as articulated in our 10-year development plan (DEVAGOM). Over the past 3-and-half years, we committed ourselves to addressing water shortages in both urban and rural areas. Through RUWASSA and other projects, we built and rehabilitated over 600 boreholes across our 11 local government areas,” Yahaya added.
On his part, Engr. Danjuma Madaki, Director of water supply said the over N11b project would bring the much needed succour, “The Project commenced with execution of MoU on 12th August, 2021, between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Gombe State Government.
He said, “The implementation of physical works commenced with award of contract to Messrs Jidadu Ventures Nig. Ltd at a contract price of N11,491,209,339.96 and Engineering Consultancy Service to Messrs Global Ecological Consultant Nigeria.”
Commissioner for Water Resources Mijinyawa Yahaya, commended the foresight of the governor.
“As you may be aware it a collaborative effort between Gombe and Federal Government. It is designed to service people of Gombe, thereby increasing accessibility of water. People of Gombe will enjoy access to water,” he said.
Yahaya urged residents to strive to pay water bill as they get ready to enjoy improved supply saying, “residents must be ready to pay rent for the purpose of sustainability.”
Also, Emir of Gombe Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III lauded the governor’s effort at improving the living conditions of the people.
Abubakar urged residents to support the administration in delivering more dividends of democracy.
