Katsina, World Bank Earmark N20bn for Water, Sanitation Projects

• 110 communities targeted for boreholes, latrines 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

The Katsina State Government in collaboration with the World Bank under its Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) project, has earmarked N20 billion for water supply and sanitation projects in 10 local government areas of the state.

The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Bishir Gambo-Saulawa, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Katsina, said the World Bank funded SURWASH project aimed at improving access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene in the state.

He explained that the N20 billion allocated through the SURWASH would enable the state government to drill solar-powered motorised boreholes with 8,000-litre capacity overhead tanks, hand-pumping boreholes and latrines in 110 communities across the 10 selected local governments.

He said the state government has already injected N5 billion for the implementation of the programme, adding that the procurement plan would cover 10 local governments in the first phase of the project, “but plans are on to extend the programme to other local governments by 2025”.

Gambo-Saulawa, during the joint press conference, said: “The Katsina State Government in partnership with the World Bank, has allocated N20 billion for various water and sanitation projects in the state. These projects are going to be executed under the SURWASH programme. 

“Already, the state government has invested N5 billion for the implementation of the programme. The procurement plan would cover 10 local governments of the state in the first phase.”

The commissioner reiterated that the water projects were in line with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s unprecedented commitment to tackling water scarcity and ensuring that residents of the state have access to quality and sustainability water supply.

Also, the Executive Director of the state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Abubakar Suleiman, said solar-powered and hand-pumping boreholes would be drilled in 90 rural communities of the state.

On his part, Dr. Tukur Hassan-Tingilin, the Managing Director of the Katsina State Water Board, said part of N20 billion would be used for water pipeline networking in communities across Daura, Malumfashi, Funtua and Dutsinma Local Governments. 

According to him, “20 areas will be covered in Katsina, followed by 14 communities in Daura, nine each in Malumfashi and Funtua, while Dutsinma will have six areas covered by the water project.”

The Executive Director of the Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Ibrahim Lawal-Dankaba, who also spoke during the press conference, said the agency would build 225 cubic-metre water reservoirs and public water stands across the 10 benefiting local governments.