Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has approved a ₦21.29 billion programme to rehabilitate the Tamburawa and Challawa water‑treatment plants and to restore associated raw‑water pump stations, the Acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Dahiru Muhammad‑Hashim, announced on Thursday.
The project will allocate ₦9.9 billion to the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and its raw‑water pump station, and ₦11.39 billion to the Challawa Raw Water Pump Station, the Challawa WTP and the Goron Dutse reservoirs. Muhammad‑Hashim described the investment as one of the most significant in Kano’s water sector in recent years, stressing its urgency and necessity.
Both facilities were originally designed to supply a combined 370 million litres of treated water per day. The Tamburawa WTP, with a design capacity of 150 million litres, is currently operating at roughly 27 percent of that level after flood damage in 2022 crippled its raw‑water pump station. The Challawa plant, built to produce 220 million litres daily, is likewise operating at less than 30 percent of capacity. The under‑performance of the two plants has contributed to widespread water shortages across the state.
The Goron Dutse reservoirs, which serve as a major distribution hub for much of Kano metropolis, have been rendered non‑functional after vandalism damaged critical components. According to the commissioner, restoring these assets is essential to re‑establishing a reliable water supply network.
Muhammad‑Hashim said the approved works will rebuild the damaged infrastructure, increase production capacity, improve distribution efficiency and stabilise water provision throughout Kano. He added that Governor Yusuf is committed to addressing the water crisis sustainably and expects the measures to markedly reduce, and eventually eliminate, scarcity in the state.
The commissioner also called on the public to cooperate in protecting water infrastructure from vandalism, which has repeatedly disrupted services. He reiterated the administration’s goal of delivering a dependable water supply and enhancing residents’ quality of life through continued investment in critical utilities.
The rehabilitation programme is set to commence shortly, with officials indicating that project timelines and procurement processes will be announced in the coming weeks.
