The Borno State Government will invest “heavily” in the water sector to ensure its availability, affordability and safety for both human and animal consumption across the state, the governor has said.
The state governor, Babagana Zulum disclosed this on Monday shortly after the commissioning of the nine-million litter Water Supply Project jointly executed by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the State government.
Governor Zulum said the Alamdari Water Project was of a great value to the government of Borno State, which explained why government accorded priority to it because of thousands of citizens in the metropolis that will depend on it.
According to the governor, the ICRC had realised the importance of the project and decided to step in by signing a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the State Government in 2017, which made possible the completion and commissioning of the project.
Zulum stated that during his electioneering campaign, he made it clear to the people that if elected, he would maintain and improve on the existing water sources and develop a comprehensive water management and utilization programme for sustainable development in Borno State. He noted that “our water sources have suffered extreme damage during the insurgency period.”
He said ICRC would always be on record in Borno State as a reliable and dependable partner, for their efforts in critical projects in the North East most especially in Borno State, in terms of food commodities, essential household items and cash as well as organising training programmes for IDPs to ease their livelihood.
The governor further stressed that the Alamderi Water Project was the best across the globe by the ICR, as it was expected to produce nine million litres of safe water on daily basis and supply 60 litres to over 150,000 people daily in Alamderi.
He therefore urged the State Ministry of Water Resources to do everything possible to maintain and sustain all the installed equipment to ensure constant water supply.
Earlier in his address, the Head of Delegation, Nigeria International Committee of the Red Cross, Eloi Fillion, said the Allamderi Water Project would provide water to over 80,000 residents and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Maiduguri in collaboration with the State Ministry of Water Resources in the state.
Eloi stated that efforts would be made by the ICRC to provide full capacity of nine million litres of water per day for about 150,000 residents of Allamduri project. The State Ministry of Water Resources is working to connect more homes to the existing distribution lines.
