Kano tackles lingering water shortage with N21.29bn rescue plan

Amid growing public concern over worsening water scarcity recently highlighted by BusinessDay, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved over N21.29 billion for the rehabilitation and restoration of critical water infrastructure across the state.

The intervention comes on the heels of reports detailing how acute shortages have forced residents in parts of the Kano metropolis to rely heavily on water vendors and unsafe sources, with supply from public utilities falling drastically below demand.

The State Ministry of Water Resources announced the approval on Thursday following the State Executive Council meeting, describing it as a decisive step toward reversing years of infrastructure decay in the sector.

Acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, who signed the statement, said the investment is targeted at reviving major facilities whose reduced output has significantly constrained water availability.

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A breakdown of the approval shows that N9.9 billion will be spent on rehabilitating the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant and restoring its Raw Water Pump Station.

Another N11.39 billion has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the Challawa Raw Water Pump Station and Water Treatment Plant, alongside the restoration of the Goron Dutse Reservoirs.

Hashim described the move as one of the most substantial water sector interventions in recent years, noting that it directly responds to the crisis underscored in recent independent reports.

Findings cited in the earlier BusinessDay report indicated that Kano’s water supply system has been operating far below installed capacity, leaving a widening gap between supply and the needs of the state’s rapidly growing population.

Providing further insight, Hashim disclosed that the Tamburawa plant, designed to produce 150 million litres per day, is currently operating at about 27 percent capacity due to flood damage sustained by its pump station since 2022. Similarly, the Challawa facility, which has a capacity of 220 million litres daily, is functioning at less than 30 percent.

Combined, both plants were originally built to deliver 370 million litres daily but now produce only a fraction of that output, a shortfall widely blamed for the persistent shortages reported across Kano.

The situation is further worsened by the collapse of the Goron Dutse Reservoirs, a key distribution hub serving large parts of the metropolis, following the vandalism of essential components.

“These realities explain the scale of the problem we face,” Hashim said, stressing that the government’s intervention is designed to directly tackle the root causes of the crisis.

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He assured that the rehabilitation projects would restore production capacity, improve distribution efficiency, and stabilise supply across the state.
The commissioner acknowledged the hardship residents have endured, particularly as many households now spend a significant portion of their income on water, according to recent reports.

“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is determined to resolve these challenges sustainably. We are confident that these measures will significantly reduce and eventually eliminate water scarcity in Kano,” he said.

Hashim also urged residents to support government efforts by protecting water infrastructure, warning that vandalism has played a major role in recurring service disruptions.

The Kano State Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a reliable and safe water supply, positioning the latest investment as a critical step toward improving public health and overall quality of life in the state.