A media aide to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has revealed the reasons for the persistence of water scarcity in Kano.
Daily News 24 reports that almost all parts of the state are experiencing severe shortage of pipe-borne water, forcing residents to rely on water vendors, rivers and streams.
But in post on Twitter, Abdullahi Ibrahim, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Yusuf on Digital Media revealed the cause of the water shortage following a meeting with Engr. Garba Ahmed Bichi, the Managing Director of the State’s Water Board.
According to Mr Ibrahim, the MD blamed the perennial water shortage on “the breakdown of pumping machines that supply water from Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant and ongoing maintenance works at Challawa Water Treatment Plant.”
He added that Mr Bichi assured them of “the commitment of Kano State Water Board to ensure that all maintenance works alongside the engineering aspects are completed in due course. “
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“The MD will also be in Lagos in the coming week to conclude procurement processes for the acquisition of new pumping machines from Germany that will serve as backup systems in case of any future breakdown,” Mr Ibrahim wrote.
“Communities in Kano State should expect the prompt resumption of water supply in the coming days as KSWB intensifies efforts to improve the water supply mechanism”.
The SSA also listed communities that he said should expect the return of water supply from Monday 22 April, 2024.
“For clarity purposes, the following communities should expect water supply to their homes and places of work from Monday 22nd April 2024:
1. Naibawa
2. Unguwa Uku
3. Medile
4. Shagari Quarters
5. Kundila
6. AKTH
7. Tarauni
8. Sheka
9. Gyadi Gyadi
10. Parts of Nassarawa
11. Cikin Gari
“Other communities across the state should expect water supply subsequently as more machinery is currently being procured by the State Government to adequately serve the entire state with safe and clean water,” Mr Ibrahim added.
Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, called on governor Yusuf to address the water shortage in the state.
“This isn’t a matter of politics; there is a genuine water scarcity issue in Kano affecting not just the 7 local governments of the metropolitan area but almost all 44 local governments in the state.
“Hopefully the actions currently being undertaken by the Kano state government will be enough to address this critical situation,” Mr Ahmad wrote on his X handle on Saturday.
Similarly, a Kannywood actress Aisha Humaira offered to supply 50 tankers of water to Kano communities that most affected by the water shortage.
She sought the help of netizens in identifying the worst affected communities in a post on her social network handles on Saturday.
“I heard residents are struggling with severe scarcity of water in the city. Please help tag the communities that suffer the most. I’m willing to distribute 50 tankers of water to them for free,” she had written in Hausa.
