Chanchaga LGA, Ministry of Water Resource synergies to address water challenges
The Chanchaga Local Government Council and the Niger State Ministry of Water Resources have intensified collaboration to tackle persistent water scarcity in Minna metropolis.
Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Dr Mustapha Jibrin, said this during a meeting with officials of the Niger State Ministry of Water Resources, aimed at finding lasting solutions to the water challenges affecting residents in Minna.
He said the move followed concerns expressed by Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago over the lingering water challenges affecting residents.
Jibrin said the governor mandated both the council and the ministry to synergise and provide both immediate and permanent solutions to the problem.
He said the governor had expressed serious concern over water shortages in Chanchaga LGA and directed that the council work closely with the ministry to ensure immediate solution.
He noted that although repairs were ongoing and efforts made to expand the city’s water infrastructure, residents were still experiencing shortages.
According to him, the governor had released some funds to the local government, saying the local government will liaise with the Ministry for water tankers from the ministry to distribute water to the most affected communities within the council.
“The governor has shown genuine care for the people of Chanchaga. He mandated us to synergise with the Ministry of Water Resources to resolve the water challenges.
“We are working closely with councillors across the 11 wards to identify areas where water is most needed and ensure equitable distribution, especially during the fasting period, pending a lasting solution,” he said.
He said that Chanchaga Local government will synergyies to distribute of about 11,000 tanker supplies every two days per ward was a temporary measure.
He added that the council will also rehabilitate several solar-powered boreholes across the wards as part of emergency measures.
Jibrin said additional boreholes would be sunk in critical areas such as Tudun Wada South and Nassarawa ‘C’ to boost supply.
He commended Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago for his proactive commitment to addressing the persistent water scarcity in Minna metropolis.
Responding, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Faruk Audi, said the water crisis required collective commitment, describing water as essential to human existence.
Audi commended the governor’s intervention, noting that challenges in the sector were enormous, particularly in Chanchaga LGA which depends on the Chanchaga system and Bosso Treatment Plant.
He disclosed that plans were underway to expand the Bosso Water Plant and upgrade the Chanchaga Water Works to meet the demands of the growing population.
The commissioner identified key challenges to include erratic power supply following a shift from post-paid to prepaid billing, shortage of treatment chemicals, relocation of pipelines due to road construction, leakages and illegal connections.
“Out of 2,421 leakages identified, 1,171 have been fixed, while work is ongoing on the remaining ones. We are also addressing issues of unpaid bills and illegal tapping,” he said.
Audi said the government had paid N50 million electricity debt and was working to revert to post-paid billing, while funds had been released for continuous supply of chemicals to ensure steady water treatment.
He assured residents that water would begin to flow in some areas before the end of the week, adding that the planned distribution of about 11,000 tanker supplies every two days per ward was a temporary measure.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Akilu Kuta, said the state planned to drill industrial boreholes in strategic locations to curb indiscriminate drilling and improve reticulation.
Kuta said the ministry was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and international partners, including the World Bank under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH)
