Niger State commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Mu’azu Hamidu Jantabo, has said the state government would soon begin to resuscitate 53 Bi-water schemes in the state.
He stated when he embarked on an on the spot assessment of Biwater schemes that the move was in line with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s agenda to provide potable water for the people.
The commissioner who was accompanied by the general manager, Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and her team, local government chairmen and officials of the ministry inspected five water schemes in Farin Doki, Lambata, Gulu, Takuti and Kutirko.
Jantabo decried the state of neglect, disrepair and decay of the schemes that were put in place 45 years ago, as he was told that most of them had stopped operation for close to 15 years.
He stated that the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources and Dam Development and other relevant agencies in an effort to see to the revitalisation of all Biwater projects.
Jantabo said the state government would fund the projects that cut across all the three senatorial zones in the state and would be open to collaboration with development partners.
The General Manager, Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mrs. Helene Umaru, expressed dissatisfaction over the neglect of the Biwater schemes and appreciated the effort to revive them.
She reiterated the determination of the agency to collaborate with the ministry of local government and relevant agencies to ensure the 52 Biwater schemes start work.
