Gov. Bago Calls for Patience Over Water Shortage Caused by Ongoing Projects, Long Decayed

By YM Bina

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has begged residents of the state, most especially those in the Minna metropolis, to be patience with him over the current shortage of water as efforts are ongoing to address the situation.

The governor made the appeal while briefing journalists at the Government House Minna on some critical issues affecting residents of the state which includes; water scarcity, electricity supply and insecurity bedeviling parts of the state.

He attributed the challenges to inherited decayed water infrastructure with some pipes broken, ongoing construction work, and the increasing population in the state capital, which have put much pressure on the water system.

Bago reiterated that his government is taking steps for a holistic overhauling of the water system with the view to providing a lasting solution and that in the interim, measures are underway to cushion the effect of water shortage.

“The government is very, very concerned about issues that have to do with potable drinking water. We inherited decades of neglect of pipelines; most of them are broken, and they are more than 30 or 40 years old.

“I want to reassure the citizens of Niger State that we are doing everything possible to desilt the Tagwai Dam, change all the pipes and the articulation system in the state capital, and expand more articulation and create more reservoirs so that everybody will have potable drinking water.

“In the interim, we are deploying tankers to go into the distribution of water to people. We are also collaborating with development partners to drill boreholes in communities where people would have potable drinking water.

“We know it is painful now for people, but this will bring a lasting solution. We want to appeal to the people to exercise patience with the Niger State government during this very exercise. ”

The governor, who also spoke on the epileptic power supply in the state, encouraged the people to make efforts to have an alternative power supply for their daily use.

He said the state government has already transitioned government facilities like hospitals, schools, and government house, among others, off the national grid to ensure effective service delivery in those sectors.

On the Insecurity bedeviling parts of Niger state, governor Bago revealed a collaborative efforts between the state and the federal government to bring to an end in restoring peace and stability in all the affected communities. He regretted that over 300,000 people were affected by the insecurity and flooding who were displaces in 10 local governments of the state.

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago used the forum to appreciate journalists in the state for their support while urging them to do more objectively reports in propagating government achievements without sentiment.