Sokoto State government has announced measures to address the acute shortage of potable water confronting residents, amidst high temperatures of over 42 degrees Celsius.
However, there have been reports that taps have gone dry and residents have been scampering to source water wherever available.
To assuage the situation, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Yusuf Maccido, said the government had set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, to deploy water tankers across the localities to provide immediate relief to residents.
The committee would also overhaul all broken-down water pumping engines and ensure the dredging of 72 earth dams in the medium and long term, Maccido told newsmen on Friday in Gusau.
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The commissioner said funds had been disbursed to the committee to address the situation, adding that some water engineers and experts from Kaduna have been co-opted to support the state water board in the repair and rehabilitation of the facilities.
According to him, three of the pumping machines in Kware are being repaired to restore water supply to Sokoto metropolis.
He said that the government hopes that in the next three years, the issue of water scarcity will be fully addressed.
Maccido explained that the government plans to replace obsolete types of machinery and complete the dredging of Bakalori, Goronyo and Luga dams which were the main sources of raw water being processed by the state water board for supply to residents.
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He added that arrangements were on to harness the Shagari dam for hydropower generation.
“We are targeting at least 80 per cent supply of potable water after rehabilitation of the systems; at present, below 20 percent is being utilized.
“We are determined to ensure that dams, machineries and other facilities function to high capacity before the end of the tenure of the present administration,” Maccido said.
He appealed to the public to show more understanding, assuring that the government is fully committed to ending the biting water scarcity.
NAN
