Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has embarked on an ambitious N6 billion rehabilitation of the ageing Sokoto Water Works, signaling a decisive move to end decades of water scarcity and deliver a reliable potable supply to residents of the state capital and neighbouring communities.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Aminu Abdullahi Dodo Iya, painted a grim picture of what was inherited, describing the facilities as “almost non-existent” and functionally collapsed before the ongoing overhaul.
“These are facilities that were almost non existent, just dead and nearly moribund when we inherited them from the immediate past administration in May 2023,” he told journalists in Sokoto on Monday.
He disclosed that Governor Ahmed Aliyu made the Water Board his first official stop after inauguration, underscoring the urgency attached to resolving the crisis.
“Out of utmost concern, the governor visited the Sokoto State Water Board right after he was sworn in on 29 May 2023, to personally assess the deplorable state of the infrastructure.
He immediately swung into action, and that hitherto unacceptable situation is fast becoming history,” Iya said.
Giving an update on progress, the commissioner expressed optimism that the intervention is already yielding tangible results, with noticeable improvements in water supply across the metropolis.
“So far, so good. We inherited an almost dead water works, which has now been largely revived for the better, courtesy of the tremendous strides of our governor,” he added.
He, however, acknowledged that work is still ongoing, stressing that the administration is nearing its target of uninterrupted water availability.
“We are not yet at one hundred per cent, but we are on the verge of ensuring that no resident of Sokoto city and its environs lacks adequate potable water for 24 hours,” he said.
Beyond the central water works, the government is executing multiple urban, semi-urban and rural water schemes to expand access across the state.
“We have vigorously pursued a range of water projects across the state, and most of them have already been revived,” the commissioner noted.
As part of measures to stabilise supply, the state has completed and energised 31 solar-powered boreholes within Sokoto metropolis and adjoining areas, aimed at cushioning the impact of unreliable electricity.
“The idea is to guarantee 24-hour water supply and reduce dependence on the epileptic power supply from Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company,” Iya explained.
He further revealed that existing boreholes are being rehabilitated and converted to solar-powered systems, with several already commissioned and others nearing completion.
On safeguarding critical infrastructure, the commissioner said the government has engaged a private security outfit to protect water installations across the state.
“We have engaged Jedo Security Firm to complement official security agencies in protecting all water supply installations,” he stated.
Corroborating the progress, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Muhammad Bello Ibrahim, said the administration remains resolute in addressing water challenges.
“We are delighted that the governor is deeply concerned about water supply in Sokoto.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure his vision of adequate potable water for all residents is achieved,” he said.
Further strengthening the reform drive, the General Manager of the Sokoto State Water Board, Engr. Aminu Haruna Mika’ilu, disclosed that a 4.2 megawatts solar power project is underway to support water operations.
“All equipment required for the project has been delivered to Sokoto.
This is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted power supply to water intake, treatment and distribution facilities,” he said.
He added that the project includes installation of large lithium batteries, inverters and a fully completed control room, alongside structural work for about 10,000 solar panels.
Mika’ilu also noted that the government is prioritizing the replacement of obsolete equipment within the water system.
“A proposal to rehabilitate and renew decades-old machines and related facilities is receiving urgent attention from the governor,” he said.
With the scale of ongoing investments and reforms, many residents believe Sokoto’s water sector may be on the cusp of a historic turnaround, potentially setting a new benchmark for public utilities management in Nigeria.
