Nigeria Invests N78.35 Billion in Water Supply Projects
The Nigerian government has taken a significant step towards improving the country’s water supply infrastructure, with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approving N78.35 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of two major water supply projects. The Greater Dutse Water Supply Project in Jigawa and the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply project in Benue are expected to benefit from this investment.
According to Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the FEC approved the award of contract for the construction of the Greater Dutse Water Supply Project at a total contract sum of ₦59,457,319,900.94. The Rehabilitation of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project in Benue was also approved, with a total sum of ₦18,893,279,411.42.
Both water supply schemes will be powered by solar energy, a deliberate effort by the government to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. This move is in line with Nigeria’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development.
In addition to these projects, the government is also taking steps to assess the state of dams across the country, following recent collapses that have raised concerns about flooding. A committee has been constituted to evaluate the condition of all dams, with the aim of restoring them to optimal functionality. The committee has been divided into two teams, which are currently conducting inspections in various states, including Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, Adamawa, Delta, Enugu, and Cross River.
"We are going to cover critical dams across the country before we move on to the second phase, where a report will be generated for Nigerians," said Minister Utsev. This effort is expected to help avert flooding in the future and ensure that the country’s dams are in good condition.
Overall, the Nigerian government’s investment in water supply projects and dam assessment is a positive step towards improving the country’s infrastructure and promoting sustainable development.
