NANFeatures/Vol.11/No.84/2017 (June 5)
Water shortage: Residents of Zaria smile at last
A News Analysis by Mohammed Lawal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
“I have a brother who is now about 30 years of age but cannot actually describe how tap water looks like.
“As I am talking to you now, our children do not know tap water, they can only talk about borehole and some family members go as far as five kilometres daily to fetch water for domestic use.’’
This was the expression of Malam Mohammed Shamsuddeen, a resident of Zaria when a multi-billion naira water project was commissioned recently in the ancient city.
Recently, on the invitation of Gov. Nasiru el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated the first phase of a multi-billion naira Zaria Water Treatment Plant conceived in 1988 by the late Brig.-Gen. Tanko Ayuba, the then military governor of the state.
Due to acute water shortage in Zaria and its environs for more than 40 years before the idea of the construction of a water treatment came, the plant was designed to supply 150 million litres of water per day to provide enough water for the residents.
Although former Vice-President Alhaji Namadi Sambo, the then governor of the state started the project in 2008, the work did not attain a stage where it could provide water for the residents.
The project had, therefore, suffered neglect and under-funding for years as no fewer than nine successive administrators in the state were unable to make the project a reality, until the present administration.
So, on May 27, the history was made; residents of Zaria and its environs heaved a sigh of relief, hopeful of getting potable water supply as the project was commissioned.
The first phase of the project will supply water to Zaria and Sabongari local government areas and the last phase is expected to supply water to six neighbouring local government areas of Giwa, Soba, Kudan, Makarfi, Ikara and Kubau, when completed.
Osinbajo, represented by Chief John Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the occasion, described el-Rufa’i as one of the most visionary governors the party had produced.
“It took an APC governor just two years to complete a project that has been in slumber for more than 16 years.
“I want to specially thank our host, the governor of Kaduna State, this is one of the showcase examples of what an APC government is all about,’’ he said.
He described the invitation to Sambo to witness the inauguration as a demonstration of good will of the state government.
Osinbajo assured the public that the temporary difficulty Nigeria was going through was largely due to inherited economic condition and crash in the global prices of crude oil.
“In spite of this, we have good fortune that President Muhammadu Buhari is a critical gesture in our national history.
“I leave it to you, imagine what would have happened if we did not have a disciplined and truthful president like Buhari in the service.
“What would have happened if we do not have a president who cares intensively for the ordinary Nigerian?’’ he said.
In his speech, Sambo who initiated the project said the event would bring an end to water scarcity in Zaria.
While commending el-Rufa’i, he pleaded with the benefiting communities to make judicious use of the project and endeavour to protect it against any form of vandalism.
Also, el-Rufa’i described the inauguration of the project as a fulfilment of one his major promises during the electioneering.
“This water treatment plant is an important component of the Zaria water supply expansion project that Kaduna State is executing with the support of Federal Government, African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank,’’ he said.
The governor explained that the state government funded the construction of the new water plant, transmission mains, service reservoirs and the rehabilitation of the distribution network.
According to him, the project will improve public health and standard of living, enhance investment and commercial activities, create jobs and reduce poverty.
Alhaji Suleiman Aliyu-Lere, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Kaduna State, recalled that the foundation of the treatment plant was laid by Sambo in 2008 with an initial contract cost of N15.7 billion which was later reviewed to N24.6 billion.
“The project was initially billed to be completed within three years; however, delays were encountered in the course of execution.
“These delays were mainly due to major security challenges and accumulation of unpaid certified vouchers, at some time the project was almost abandoned.
“The plant is the most critical component of greater Zaria Water Supply Expansion and Sanitation Project, ’’ he said.
Aliyu-Lere said the project was aimed at meeting the state government’s objective of bridging the huge infrastructural gap by providing residents of Kaduna State with access to adequate, safe and potable water supply.
In his remarks, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the Emir of Zazzau, thanked el-Rufa’i for making their dream a reality and assured him of support and cooperation of the entire people of the area.
He prayed that God would give the governor the power to bring an end to water shortage in Kaduna State as a whole.
Residents at the inauguration observed that the inauguration of the water treatment plant would continue to linger in the minds of people of the ancient city of Zaria.
Most of them noted that Zaria water works was first constructed in 1939 to provide 10 million litres of water daily to residents, expressing gratitude to el-Rufa’i for completing the project.
Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, a resident, said his joy knew no bounds over the completion of the project.
He cited Anguwan Iya, Kan Fage, Limanci, Kusfa, Marmara, Anguwan Karfe, Anguwan Nufawa, Salmanduna, Anguwan Bishar and Kofar Gayan Low-Cost, among others, as the worst hit areas by water shortage.
“I can authoritatively tell you that an adult of 25 years of age cannot tell anything about tap water, because he or she knew nothing about it.
“This is because tap water had not been running in these areas for over 25 years now; this government has done everything for us,’’ Mohammed said.
Similarly, Mr Mohammed Dalhatu from Zaria appreciated the efforts of the present administration of el-Rufa’i.
Narrating the difficulties experienced by residents, Dalhatu said children sometimes missed their school just because of fetching water.
Hajiya Hadiza Hassan, a housewife and resident of Sabongari, said the joy was not for the people of Zaria city alone but for the entire people of Zazzau emirate.
According to her, the nasty experience of water scarcity for several years has now become history in Zaria and its environs.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)