The Jigawa state government has converted the 154 old water scheme to solar powered stations. The effort is to modernise and reduce the cost of fueling as well as regularise water supply to most urban and semi urban cities in the state.
This was made known by the state Commissioner of Water and Natural Resources, Hon, Ibrahim Garba Hannun Giwa during a stakeholders workshop on tariff studies under the 3rd national urban water sector reform project of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development held in Dutse at the weekend.
He assured that, before the end of the present government, all water schemes under the state water board and small towns water schemes would be converted to solar powered water supply schemes for constant water supply to communities in the state.
Hon. Giwa disclosed that the state government had expended over N650 million on the provision of water in the state, adding that three 800 KVA generating sets were purchased and installed at Birnin Kudu, Gumel and Kazaure water treatment plants, with a view to boosting water supply in urban cities, adding that obsolete water equipment were replaced with new ones.
The commissioner explained that government would consult with stakeholders in the water sector to study the reports critically and make recommendations, pointing out that a bill would be sent to the state House of Assembly for consumers to pay water rates to complement government’s efforts at regular supply of water to the people.
He noted that no country would survive without taxes, duties, levies and other charges, saying payment of water charges was in order.
He observed that supply of water was capital intensive, pointing out that without commitment, government would find it difficult to provide water to the people because of its cost effectiveness, calling on stakeholder to jointly organise a sensitisation campaign with a view to educating the general public on the importance of remitting water bills in the state. He then assured that government would comply with the provisions of the 3rd national urban water sector project, which he noted was a World Bank project.