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Taraba State Governor Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has restated his administration’s desire to provide the State capital and beyond with clean, pure, potable and sustainable water supply.
Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku stated this on Thursday during a town hall interactive meeting on urban water development with a view to reforming, organising and making the Ministry of water resources more vibrant and proactive to meet the increasing needs of water by the people of the State.
He revealed that the State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a siwage corporation in Nairobi Kenya who are in the fore front of efficient, effective and sustainable water management and supply in Africa.
The Governor in a flashback said when he was a consultant, he once contacted the State Government on the need of a sustainable water plan in the State that will stand the test of time, but lamented that his suggestion was overlooked and however expressed happiness with the progress made so far under his leadership as the Governor of the State.
Governor Darius Ishaku further said the fifty persons that will be trained in Kenya will be automatically employed by the State Government and remarked that water supply remains cardinal as he reiterated his resolve to rescue the water sector which will greatly impact on the water management and as well providing it with the desired capacity that will help improve the revenue base of the State.
He stated that his Government is making concerted efforts aimed at privatising the water sector which will be managed and supervised by competent Board of Directors that would be constituted to help strengthen the water sector for effective performance.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Gowon Emmanuel Halan thanked the State Governor for the prompt released of funds to the Ministry which has enabled it to function effectively in meeting the water needs of in the State.
Hon.Gowon Halan maintained water is a very important resource in the life of every living being and boldly commended the visionary leadership quality of Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku which has broken the jinx of water scarcity particularly in Jalingo the State capital.
He stressed that, the working tour to Sewage Corporation in Nairobi Kenya which the Governor was part of it and participated in the technical session and field visits to ensure that no detail was left out, so that, the management of water in the State would be taken to another level.
He reaffirmed that the Ministry of water resources is passing through a better time and maintained that it was made possible through the pragmatic and purposeful Minda’s touch of the Rescue Captain.
The Commissioner revealed that, most of the major towns in the State now have potable water supply including semi urban centers across the State and the purchase of the State of Arts equipment for the Laboratory as well as chemicals for water treatment and described the ongoing Jalingo primary water scheme as the most comprehensive stand-alone project fully financed by the State government to compliment effort of the African Development Bank.
Barr. Gowon Halan described the landmark journey as eventful, tasking and interesting with utmost joy and satisfaction that the taps are now running which involves hard work, meticulous planning which has culminated in the water flowing regularly, thereby, putting smile on the faces of people of the State.
Water Resources Commissioner encouraged the people of the State not to take water for granted, but as a natural gift for us from God through the instrumentality of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
Accordingly, Barr. Gowon Halan went rhetorical with the following questions begging for answer, “Why do we always have dry running taps? Why do we have epeliptic water supply? Why do we pay so much to get water? Why do we suffer from water related diseases?
He asked the people to ponder on them with a view to supporting the laudable initiative of the Arc. Governor, with the penchant of providing pure potable drinking water to all and posited that, the water sector has been rescued.
In his contribution, the General Manager Taraba Water Supply Agency, Engr. Buba Musa Siam disclosed that very soon the AFDB water project will be rounding up their work in the State, saying that, already the have started test running of some major taps and the overhead tanks, particularly, that of Roadblock, Mile six while that of Kona, ATC and College of Agriculture will soon be test run.
Engr. Musa Siam explained that when the AFDB have rounded up their project the metering of Houses to ensure that water is been properly billed through litering system will commence throughout the metropolis.
He said the water Agency has entered into an agreement with Nairobi Sewage Corporation in Kenya where about 50 persons will soon be trained in the Modern Water Management using the newly introduced automated billing system and added that very soon the state of Art overhead tank will soon be constructed in Mount Jalingo which will be beautifully designed and will serve as a tourist center.
The Manager of Taraba Water Agency said they are working round the clock to ensure that the keep to the vision of his Excellency.
He however lamented that, the Agency is faced with inadequate staff, stressing that the Agency now relies on the services of manpower staff for it to function, adding that the Agency has less than two hundred staff on her payroll which is grossly inadequate.
He therefore appealed to the State Governor to come to the aid of the water Agency for more staff to be recruited so that the vision of giving uninterrupted water supply to the people of the State will be realised.
The town hall meeting went into an interactive session, as well as questions and answers and the display of latest equipment used in water treatment recently acquired by the Agency.
