Governor Abba Yusuf has approved N21.29 billion for the urgent rehabilitation of the Tamburawa and Challawa Water Treatment Plants, alongside the restoration of vital raw water pump stations, in a decisive move to tackle chronic water scarcity in Kano State.
The acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim, announced the measure in a statement on Thursday.
According to the commissioner, N9.9 billion will fund the refurbishment of the Tamburawa plant and its associated raw water pump station, while N11.39 billion has been allocated to the Challawa plant, its pump station, and the restoration of the Goron Dutse Reservoirs.
Describing the intervention as one of the largest investments in the state’s water sector in recent years, Mr Muhammad-Hashim said: “It is both urgent and necessary.”
He revealed that the Tamburawa plant, designed to produce 150 million litres per day, now operates at just 27 per cent capacity due to flood damage sustained in 2022, particularly at its raw water pump station. Similarly, the Challawa facility, with a capacity of 220 million litres per day, functions at less than 30 per cent.
“Combined, both plants were built to supply 370 million litres daily but are now delivering far below that threshold, contributing directly to the widespread shortages across the state,” he said. “The Goron Dutse Reservoirs – a major distribution hub for much of the Kano metropolis – have been rendered non‑functional following the vandalism of critical components. These realities explain the scale of the problem.”
The commissioner assured residents that the approved projects would restore production capacity, improve distribution efficiency, and stabilise water supply. “Governor Abba Yusuf is committed to resolving these challenges sustainably. We are confident that, with these measures, water scarcity in Kano will soon be significantly reduced and ultimately eliminated.”
He also appealed for public cooperation, particularly in protecting water infrastructure from vandalism – a recurring cause of service disruption – and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to reliable water supply and improved quality of life through sustained infrastructure investment.
