The Federal Government has commissioned the N5.7 billion Gashua water supply scheme in Yobe to expand access to safe and potable water in underserved communities across Nigeria.
Unveiled on Tuesday by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, the project is expected to serve over one million residents of Gashua and neighbouring communities in the Bade Local Government Area.
Speaking at the commissioning held at the Gashua Water Works in Filin Tanda, Utsev described the initiative as a strategic intervention to address longstanding water supply challenges in the region.
The minister, in a statement, noted that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes clean water access as a pillar of public health, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
According to Utsev, the scheme features four solar-powered, borehole-based water systems, including one located within a university campus.
It also includes a modern water treatment facility, surface and elevated storage tanks, electro-mechanical installations, and an extensive transmission and distribution network.
Utsev urged inclusive stakeholder participation and emphasized the need for the state water board to ensure the infrastructure is sustainably managed for long-term community benefit.
He also acknowledged other ongoing Federal Government interventions in the state, including the Damaturu Lots A & B, Nguru, Fika/Gadaka, and Potiskum water supply projects.
Commending the Federal Government’s commitment, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Idi Barde, expressed appreciation for the intervention.
He highlighted the significance of clean water in improving healthcare outcomes and fostering socio-economic development, especially in northern Yobe, where residents have long grappled with chronic water scarcity.
The governor further referenced ongoing research into possible links between local water quality and a rise in kidney-related illnesses.
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who was also present, recalled that the project was initiated in response to recurring outbreaks of waterborne diseases in Gashua.
He lauded the Tinubu administration and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation for prioritizing clean water access.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, congratulated the government and people of Yobe, encouraging community members to take ownership of the facility to ensure its protection and sustainability.
Also in attendance were directors from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, including Mr. Mukaila Babarinde, Director of Water Supply and Support Services, who presented an overview of the project.
The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of handover documents and the official commissioning of the water scheme.
The urgency of the project is underscored by a reported surge in kidney diseases among residents of Gashua and its environs. An investigation by the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, is underway to determine the causes of the high prevalence of kidney diseases in the area.
