Uba Sani’s mult-million naira water therapy

BY ANDREW FADASON

Water consumers in Kaduna State, including citizens, corporate organizations and individuals have struggled with pipe borne water supply for a long time. Most people who can afford it, have boreholes in their residences or business premises. However, the situation is about to change following a comprehensive revamp programme initiated by Governor Uba Sani, to clear the backlog of salary arrears of the staff of Kaduna State Water Corporation. In addition, the Governor has put them back to the state’s payroll. Not that alone, he plans to inject N93 billion in the next three years into KADSWAC, to repair and upgrade their facilities, treatment plants and other equipment. No doubt, it will take some time before water starts gushing from taps but Governor Uba Sani has taken several steps in the right direction.

Despite heavy investments in the water sector in the late 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century, water supply has been dogged with series of problems in Kaduna State. For example, the World Bank had granted the state government over $100m facility for the repairs and upgrade of its then ageing and obsolete facilities, including broken down pipes and plants, in the 90s. However, very little was done with the colossal amount of money. That was during the old Water Board.

The coming of KADSWAC, which is to run the corporation like a commercial entity, didn’t help matters because of structural problems. First, the population of Kaduna town has exploded beyond the capacity of the corporation’s equipment. Second, the pipelines and other mains have become too old to convey water to every household. Again, most of the textile companies that were the biggest customers of the old Water Board have folded up due to high operating costs, dumping and the general harsh economic conditions in the country. So, the corporation couldn’t even pay its staff, let alone meet customers’ demand for water. In a recent press briefing, the Commissioner of Public Works, Arch Ibrahim Hamza, disclosed that ‘’previous administrations invested $500 million into the urban water supply scheme in the last 10 years with no result. Rather, capacity utilisation dropped down from 43% in 2017 to 8% in 2023 with 5% coverage.

The Governor inherited the problem from the last administration in the state but rather than look the other way decided to solve the problem, which had lingered for over five years, once and for all. For over a year, the workers went without salaries. It was not surprising that they went on strike several times, demanding the removal of Comrade Sanusi Maikudi, the then Managing Director.

Expectedly, Governor Uba Sani’s decision to pay the backlog of N800 million salary arrears to the Staff of the Kaduna State Water Corporation was greeted with wild jubilation. Similarly, water consumers including citizens and corporate organizations hailed the governor’s action. Apart from paying salary arears, Governor Uba Sani will inject N93 billion in KADSWAC in four instalments, starting with N17 billion this year. The balance is going will be spread in three instalments of N35 billion and N30 billion in investments in 2025 and 2026 respectively. The remaining N11 billion will be invested in 2027.

Apart from KADSWAC staff, some residents of Kaduna are already enthusiastic about the new development. John Yahaya, a resident of Romi New Extension expressed delight saying, “This is good news. I cannot wait to see water supply back again. It will be great because it will reduce our problems. You can imagine those women who troop out every day in the morning in search of water in the neighbourhoods.”

Although it will take about three years before the situation normalises, Governor Uba Sani’s intervention has already endeared him to a vast majority of KADSWAC customers, especially the masses who do not have the wherewithal to sink boreholes or make other private arrangements. Water sustains life and Governor Uba Sani has promised to inject life into KADSWAC.

Fadason is a former Kaduna State council chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).