Kano residents groan as water scarcity defies solutions

Kano residents have continued to grapple with water scarcity as all efforts to address the lingering scarcity by the state government defy all solutions.

The water scarcity, coupled with the current poor power supply from the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, has crippled social and economic activities in the ancient city.

Areas worst hit by the perennial water scarcity include – Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Nassarawa and Ungogo because residents of these areas depend more on the state water board, boreholes and water vendors as sources of their water for daily use.

Investigations by  revealed that as a result of the persistent scarcity, water vendors popularly known as “Mai Ruwa” have continued to exploit the situation by increasing their prices to about 200 per cent thereby making brisk business at the expense of the common man.

“Water scarcity in Kano metropolitan areas has been a major challenge for decades in the history of the state.

“It is a pathetic situation because on a daily basis, I spend nothing less than N2000, and when you calculate this in a month, it is N60,000,” he lamented.

Another resident, Hayatu Abdallah, expressed great concern over the persistent water scarcity in the city, saying it has affected the socio-economic activities of the residents.

“It is unfortunate that up till now, the state government has yet to find a lasting solution to the problem as residents have continued to grapple with water scarcity in the metropolitan areas.

“It is high time for the present administration to address the problem squarely because it has brought untold hardships to many residents, especially the poor,” he said.

reports that truly, the water scarcity, which is fast becoming an annual phenomenon, has continued to defy all government solutions and efforts towards ensuring steady and uninterrupted safe drinking water supply to the residents.

Following the lingering water scarcity in Kano, previous administrations had made several efforts to break this vicious cycle, especially within the eight metropolitan local government areas, but their efforts have proved abortive.

A top government source who sought anonymity because he is not officially in a position to talk with the media, confided in our correspondent that “some of the identified major challenges that have continued to hinder water supply in the city include cable theft by some vandals, epileptic and insufficient power supply, some unpatriotic activities taking place in Kano and Challawa rivers and the non-challant attitude of some water consumers, among others.”

Regrettably, it was further learnt that the previous administrations had, on an annual basis, budgeted huge sums of money with the intention of addressing the lingering water crisis but to no avail.

For example, the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje budgeted the sum of over N31bn in 2018 for the provision of water in the state.

Disturbed by the current water scarcity being experienced in the metropolis, the state government had through the Commissioner of Water Resources, Ali Haruna Makoda assured that the scarcity would soon be over, as it has deployed all other means to deal with the situation.

According to him, the state government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is working round the clock to ensure the availability of water in the eight metropolitan local governments.

“We are working tirelessly to fix the prevailing water scarcity in the state capital and its environs, and in a couple of days, the problem will be over,” the commissioner assured the residents.

Makoda blamed the challenge on obsolete equipment, especially at the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to most of the Kano metropolis.

He also attributed the current high temperature being experienced to the water shortage, as according to him, people consume higher volumes of water to cope with the raging hot weather conditions.

“The State Government inherited the decay in the water sector from the previous administration which did not give the necessary attention to potable water supply.

“During the tenure of the last administration, only 20 per cent of the state’s water needs were supplied and was grossly inadequate.”

“But on assumption of office, our administration has been able to supply more than 60 per cent of the water needs of our people,” Makoda explained.

He added that the present administration is spending over N1.2 billion monthly to improve water supply through the purchase of diesel at a cost of N400 million, as well as N387 million on the procurement of chemicals and the settlement of electricity bills to the tune of N280 million on a monthly basis.

The Commissioner disclosed that the State Government had entered into an agreement with the French Government to spend 63.4 million Euros for the construction of an additional Water Treatment Plant.

“The State Government is committed to ensuring that there is an adequate supply of drinking water in Kano, which is why the Government of Abba Kabir Yusuf is doing all it can, including spending huge amounts of money, to provide enough portable drinking water in and around the ancient city,” Makode pointed out.