Jigawa govt converts water stations to solar scheme

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.

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