Relief Ahead: Minna’s Water Scarcity to Ease as Pipeline Relocation Progresses
Residents of Niger State, especially those dwelling in Minna, the state capital and its surroundings, will soon experience relief from the persistent water scarcity issue, as the Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation is diligently striving to finalize the relocation of the primary transmission pipeline that provides water to Minna.
Engr. Gimba Yisa, the Managing Director of the Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation, offered reassurances while urging the public to comprehend and endure the inadvertent difficulties caused by the ongoing urban renewal initiative.
The Managing Director explains that “we are relocating the main transmission line that supplies water to Minna.
We have done that and what we are doing now is pressure testing because it’s a main line that passes across the road and you know it’s a sensitive and critical work. We have to exhaust every means to ensure we do proper pressure testing and that there is no any leakage and we don’t give any chance for a burst or disruption in the near future. So we are taking our time.
We are on the pressure testing and once we finish and are able to resume normal water supply to the main reservoirs like IBB, Paida, Dutsen Kura and others, it’ll largely douse the tension”.
He contends that the extreme weather conditions have exacerbated the situation, as the dry season has depleted even the household boreholes that once supplemented the Water Corporation’s endeavors.
“But it seems the dry season is extreme because so many people have complained that their boreholes and wells don’t usually dry up completely but this year, it has dried up completely”, he disclosed.
Furthermore, the MD revealed that”Another measure we are taking is about 10 or 13 days ago, the Deputy Governor was at the water works and he gave directive to supply water tankers almost to different locations within Minna and we’ll continue to send more.
When we made our plans based on areas that are critically affected, we identified about 50 locations. It may not be surprising if one location has gotten only one. We are doing our best to even take it more than once”.
He hinted that besides the present major work been carried out at the city gate which is expected to be completed within the next three days, there will be relocation of major pipelines from Mobil to Stadium junction, one location at Obasanjo Complex and another major one coming at Morris junction, the interchange being constructed is also going to affect our major transmission to Dutsen Kura reservoir.
It’s going to be in phases, we are synergising with the main contractors which is CCECC to see how we can minimise the disruption in the relocation.
“I also want to add that , apart from the major roads under urban renewal, we have internal roads within the town under construction.
As at last count, not less than 30 roads are being constructed , so a number of those roads, we have service and distribution pipelines that take water to those locations , so we are working, Some of the contractors have paid for the relocation which we are doing but some have not done.
Even yesterday we had a meeting with the chairman of New Niger and he assured he’ll talk to those with outstanding payments to do so , that relocation will be done and we’ll have general improvements in water supply”, the MD concluded.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Hassan Baba Etsu, implored the populace, asserting that the water challenges afflicting the state, particularly in Minna, should not solely be ascribed to the ongoing extensive infrastructure development.
Other contributing factors include the burgeoning population density in Minna, which now exceeds the capacity of the existing water facilities, as well as prevailing weather conditions, with rains yet to arrive, resulting in the drying up of boreholes.
Most critically, the water pumping machines at the Minna Water Works are antiquated and require replacement, fortunately, this issue is being addressed by the state government, as he revealed that contractors have been instructed to hasten the completion of the relocation of water pipes and power lines in a timely manner.
Hamza Waziri
Coordinator, Press Affairs to Niger State Governor.
