Niger state Ministry of Water Resources and Dams Development has received more equipment to be installed at the Chanchaga Water Works as part of efforts of the state government to boost water supply in Minna and its environs.

Receiving the items which include 12 units of electric control panel at the Chanchaga Water Works yesterday, the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Dams Development, Alh Abubakar Idris Azozo explained that the panels were the mechanism that controls the energy that goes into the system.

He said the ministry is awaiting the arrival of five additional pumps and that they were not waiting until the whole equipments arrived before installations were carried out. He said their team of engineers was on ground and are installing the equipments as they arrived.

“We are gradually getting to the Promised Land and very soon we shall invite you to come and witness the completion of the installation of the equipments,” added the commissioner.

The commissioner who said he was the happiest person seeing the rate at which the work at the water works was moving, said in the next three weeks the whole installations will be completed. He added that they were in a hurry to pump water to the reservoirs so that those who were connected to the reservoirs can have water.

He also assured that the ministry will look into the possibility of extending the water supply to new settlements and that if it is possible they will do that, but that the traditional Minna will have constant water supply after the installation of the equipment.

Speaking also, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Idris said the gesture was to ensure that about 70 percent of the equipment were replaced to effectively supply water to residence of Minna and its environs.

He said the panels were control unit that will regulate power supply and control the pump, both the ones already received and those to be received before the end of the month.

He said the target of the ministry was to see that every consumer gets water on a daily basis, but if that cannot be achieved it should not be beyond four days a week. He said the state government was aware of the suffering of the people as regards to provision of water and that this was why they were taking the pain to provide equipment that will stand the test of time.

The permanent secretary also appealed to the general public for more patience, saying the suffering will soon be a thing of the past as the ministry with the support of the state Governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello was doing everything possible to end water scarcity in Minna and its environs.

In his response as the beneficiary of the equipment, the General Manager of the state water board, Engr. Hassan Tsado said it was a giant lift for his organization, and that the solution to the water scarcity in Minna was around the corner, thereby appreciating the patience of the water consumers in the state.

He disclosed that already the electric motor and the pumps have been installed, and that the panels were to control the electric motors and the pumps to either start or stop them. He added that there were consultants to work with them to ensure that the equipment are well managed.

Some of the equipment so far received by the ministry were seven electric motors, six water pumps, and 12 electric control panels for water pumps, and awaiting the delivery of five more water pump which have arrived Lagos from Germany and expected to be transported down to Minna before the end of this month.