One of the primary focuses of Governor Bago’s administration is ensuring access to potable water for all Nigerlites. The Commissioner conducted on-the-spot assessments of these schemes to gauge the extent of damage and decay.

Accompanied by the General Manager of the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mrs Helene Umaru, and senior officials from the ministry, the Commissioner visited approximately five schemes.

1. During the visit to the Farin Doki water scheme, it was evident that the project had been neglected, with all the equipment no longer functioning.

2. In Lamabata, the Commissioner expressed concern about the scheme as many pipes were missing, and most of the equipment, including generators, had been damaged. While the scheme is partly operational, it desperately needs rehabilitation.

3. The Gulu Water scheme, the largest of all the visited schemes, had suffered extensive vandalization due to banditry activities plaguing the community.

4. The Takuti Biwater scheme is also in disrepair and neglect.

5. Kutirko presented a similar story of deterioration.

A common thread among all the visited schemes was their non-functionality, stemming from neglect or vandalism.

The exercise will cover all the biwater schemes throughout the state.

In response to inquiries from the press, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs explained that the project would be divided into phases, corresponding to the state’s three senatorial zones. He also mentioned that the state government would fund the project while actively seeking development partners.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the Ministry of Water Resources and Dam Development, the Water Cooperation Agency, and his ministry would collaborate in a government-to-government (G to G) approach to ensure the revival of all state Biwater projects.