There are strong indications that the Zaria water project in northern Nigeria will meet its completion deadline of July 2017.
The project which started in 1999 is costing Kaduna State Government almost N70 billion (about $200 million).
Last September, the government awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and replacement of old pipes, construction of 7.3 kilometre transmission lines, construction of 10 reservoirs of six million litres each, construction of three bolster stations and dams, among others.
“The entire length of pipeline is 75 kilometres, branching out to the seven local government areas the water project will be serving. There are also going to be 15 water tanks of six million litres each,” says Commissioner for Water Resources, Suleiman Lere.
Available data at the Ministry shows that Zaria water consumption alone is about 100 million litres per day. But it currently has less than 50 million per day supply.
According to government sources, the project would produce up to 150 million litres per day, that would serve Zaria and adjoining local government areas.
The project is expected to address the issue of perennial shortage of water for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes in Zaria and metropolis.
Special Assistant to Governor of Kaduna State on Media and publicity, Samuel Aruwan in a Facebook post showing video of the water project says, “Without any ‘abracadabra’ This is the Test Run of 150MLD Zaria Water Treatment Plant on 21 December 2016.”
He told AFRICA PRIME NEWS, “the project has a long history, but we are hoping with God on our side we will finish it this year.”
Aruwan recalled a town hall meeting which Governor Nasir El-Rufai had with youth leaders of Kaduna North Senatorial Zone during electioneering campaign in March 2015, where the governor promised to complete the water project.
“I stand here to tell you nothing but the truth and I will say it for all to know. By the special grace of God we will complete Zaria Water Project that has been going on endlessly. We keep on hearing billions upon billions being spent without an end.
“You asked for my candid position regarding the water project, and I told you that I will complete the project and bring water to our people without any ‘abracadabra’. We will not say what we will not do.
“There will be no more story and deceit if God and the good people of Kaduna state give us the mandate to run affairs of our state. We will make it real by the grace of God”.