March 28, 2018

The Nasarawa State Government says it will dam the River Uke and establish a water scheme to tackle water challenges in Karu axis of the state.

Mr. Umaru Abdullahi-Agbo, General Manager, Nasarawa State Water Board made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Lafia.

According to him, given the population of that axis from Mararaba, Masaka all the way to Auta-Balefi, there is need to have a functional water scheme to service the people effectively.

He said the government was also in talks with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board with the view to supplying bulk water to the area for distribution to the growing population.

The GM noted that a lot of people in that axis currently depended on commercial boreholes for their water supply, adding that the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes had health implications.

“Most of the boreholes were sunk by none experts and without recourse to the geological composition of the area, thereby exposing the people to all sorts of health hazards.

“We will continue to sensitize the people on the need to notify the board and engage qualified experts whenever they want to drill borehole to guard against endangering the lives of people,” he said.

He said that the Gov Umaru Al-Makura led administration has demonstrated great commitment towards providing adequate portable water to the people of the state with the construction of several water schemes and refurbishing of existing ones.

Abdullahi-Agbo said the present administration has so far constructed and refurbished 15 water schemes with some at the verge of being completed.

He said some of the schemes were borehole-based as a result of the geology of some of the areas, adding that most of the boreholes were powered by solar energy to address the issue of power supply.

“For example, the Wamba Water Scheme with a cluster of about 15 boreholes supply water to the plant for distribution to the town is due to the rocky nature of the area and the none availability large stream.

“Also the Keana and Awe water schemes are borehole driven owing to the salinity of the area that would not support the use of surface water for drinking,” he said.

Abdullahi-Agbo said that the state government had concluded plans to establish water schemes in all local government and development headquarters.

He also said that the state government would dam some rivers to make them viable in supplying water for domestics use and irrigation.