The Kaduna State Government has approved major contracts for the rehabilitation of key water treatment plants and booster stations, including the 10 million-liters-per-day facility in Zaria, as well as others located in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, Architect Ibrahim Hamza Soba, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at his palace in Zaria.
He explained that the government is also conducting a holistic review of laws governing water supply, sanitation, and waste management to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure long-term sustainability of the water sector.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ashiru Abdu Na Abdu, the Commissioner noted that the administration inherited a severely dysfunctional water system characterized by unpaid staff salaries, decaying facilities, and extremely low production levels.
He revealed that the government had cleared an eleven-month salary backlog owed to staff of the Kaduna State Water Corporation amounting to about ₦900 million as part of efforts to restore morale and stabilize operations.
Architect Soba further stated that the government had regularized and integrated “cash work” staff into the formal civil service structure to ensure proper workforce management, accountability, and improved service delivery.
He added that the visit was aimed at briefing the Emir on ongoing interventions to revitalise the water sector across Kaduna State.
According to him, capacity utilization of the state’s water system was below 10 percent when the administration assumed office, but ongoing interventions are projected to raise production to nearly 70 percent by the first quarter of next year, Insha Allah.
The Commissioner expressed concern over persistent vandalism of treatment plants, booster stations, power cables, and critical equipment, stressing that such acts continue to disrupt water supply and impose hardship on residents.
He appealed for community support in safeguarding water infrastructure and reporting suspicious activities.
Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the government’s commitment to improving water supply but emphasized that weak enforcement and lack of punitive measures remain major factors encouraging vandalism and destruction of public assets.
The Emir assured the delegation of the full cooperation of the Zazzau Emirate Council, promising enhanced community sensitisation and stronger support to protect installations to ensure government investments deliver lasting benefits.
The Permanent Secretary was accompanied on the visit by the Director General of the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Engineer Mubarak Ladan, the Managing Director of the Kaduna State Water Corporation, Engr. Kabir Ahmad Rufa’i, and other senior directors.
The visit was conducted under the auspices of the Kaduna Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program.
The aim was to secure the Emirate’s ownership of water and sanitation facilities to enhance protection, sustainability, and community involvement.
The Permanent Secretary was also accompanied by the SURWASH Program Coordinator, Engr. Esau Ambinjah, heads of SURWASH Implementation Agencies, and other senior government officials.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
