Sani Dutsinma
The Kebbi State Government says it has recorded significant progress in its efforts to rehabilitate the Birnin Kebbi waterworks, raising hopes of the restoration of normal water supply to the state capital.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, disclosed this during an inspection visit to the facility in Birnin Kebbi, where ongoing repair works are underway.
Bala-Tafida stated that Governor Nasir Idris had established a task force committee to expedite the resuscitation of the waterworks that supply water to Birnin Kebbi township.
According to him, the government is committed to resolving the water challenges faced by residents and restoring a reliable supply as soon as possible.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Isah Arzika, explained that engineers discovered a major burst at the Dukki waterworks shortly after the lifting period on Wednesday.
He said that by the time the engineers arrived at the site, the lifting machines had already been submerged.
Arzika noted that prompt action was taken to shut down the machines to minimise damage, while pumping machines were immediately sourced and deployed to drain the flooded areas.
He added that a team of engineers is currently on site dismantling the affected machines and moving them for proper drying and testing.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the State Water Board, Alhaji Zayyanu Shehu, assured residents that water supply would be fully restored within one week, following the completion of ongoing repair works.
The state government reiterated its resolve to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to residents of Birnin Kebbi and appealed for patience as technical teams work around the clock to complete the repairs.