The federal government has commissioned the 3,200 million litres per day (MLD) Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Bade local government area of Yobe State, a step toward improving access to clean and safe water in the country’s North East.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, officially inaugurated the facility on behalf of the federal government during a ceremony at the Gashua Water Works, Filin Tanda.
In a press statement, the ministry’s director of information and public relations, Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan, said the N5.73 billion project is designed to provide potable water to over one million residents of Gashua and surrounding communities.
Prof Utsev described the project as a vital intervention in addressing the region’s long-standing water supply challenges and aligned it with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises clean water access as essential for public health, poverty reduction, and economic growth.
The Gashua scheme includes four solar-powered borehole systems, one of which is located on a university campus, a modern water treatment plant, surface and elevated storage tanks, electro-mechanical installations, and an extensive transmission and distribution network, the statement explained.
Handing over the facility to the Yobe State government, Prof. Utsev called for inclusive stakeholder involvement and urged the state to empower its Water Board to sustainably manage the infrastructure.
Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, expressed deep appreciation for the federal government’s intervention. He stressed the importance of safe water for health and development, and noted ongoing studies exploring possible links between poor water quality and kidney-related ailments in Northern Yobe.
Former senate president, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who hails from the region, said the Gashua project was borne out of the need to tackle persistent outbreaks of waterborne diseases in the area. He commended President Tinubu and the minister for their commitment to expanding clean water access across the country.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, also addressed the gathering, urging the local community to take ownership of the facility to ensure its longevity.
Other ongoing federal water projects in Yobe State include the Damaturu Water Supply Projects (Lots A & B), the Nguru Water Supply Project, the Fika/Gadaka Water Supply Project, and the Potiskum Water Supply Project.