By Amos Tauna
Acting President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday in Zaria Northern part of the country commissioned the 150 million litres per day water treatment plant worth 24bn to deliver water to the ancient city of Zaria and 6 other local government areas and environs.
Osinbajo said the completion of the water project is part of the determination of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) government to the people of Zaria, Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.
Represented by the National chairman of the ruling APC, Chief John Oyegun, Professor Osinbajo noted that, “Today’s event signify that the APC means business. This was a project the PDP failed to do in sixteen years when they were in power.
“But today, we are here to witness the commissioning of the water project completed by one of our most visionary Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.”
On his part, Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, said the project was very important to the people of Zaria and environs, adding that is why he promised during the campaign to complete the project and promise that is being realized today.
The Governor thanked the Former vice president and former Governor of the state Muhammed Namadi Sambo who was present at the commissioning for initiating the project and development partners for their efforts in the project as a whole.
El-Rufai said, the Zaria water project is the beginning of a new phase in water works development and renovation in the state as other water works scattered all across the state will continue to receive the attention of government.
He said the Zaria water works was built in 1939 with an initial capacity of 10m litres and is currently not functioning, pointing out that in 1975, it was upgraded to 50m litres but the operating capacity of both the two could not meet the 140m litres per day need of the people of Zaria and environs.
Speaking at the event, the Emir of Zazzau, Alh Shehu Idris, said the completion of the Zaria water project by the administration of Nasir El-Rufai was a dream come true.
According to him, “It is my dream to see this day becoming a reality. Thank you Mr. Governor for making my dream come true.”
Earlier, the state commissioner for water resources, Alh Suleiman Aliyu Lere, disclosed that the foundation of the Zaria water project was laid by the former governor of the state, Namadi Sambo in 2008 at the cost of N15bn and was later reviewed to N24bn due to other exigencies.
In his own remarks, the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo commended the state governor for completing the project.
He said, he was not surprised because the governor whom he knew 40 years ago is a goal getter, saying that once he sets himself on something, he finishes it.
