Borno Plans N400m Water Works For Maiduguri

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, (THEWILL) - The Borno State Government appears set to move ahead with its plan to provide potable water for residents of the state as it announced a plan to construct another water works in Maiduguri, the state capital, at the cost of N400 million.

The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mai Sheriff, who made the announcement on Thursday at a media briefing said over N300 million had already been approved for the construction of the Maiduguri Water Works “C” in Alamderi .

He said the ministry has also purchased pipes worth N88 million for the routine repairs and replacement of broken down pipes within the metropolis, stressing that 130 boreholes are currently been drilled across the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.

Mai Sherrif said, in addition to all these, the state government has bought pumps and other machines at the cost of N30 million , in addition to the drilling of state of the art boreholes in Ngala, Moramti, Chibok and Mbalala.

Mai Sherrif said when completed, the new Maiduguri Water Works will generate up to seven million litres of water per day and will put an end to the incessant water problems at Bulunkutu and its environs in Maiduguri.

The Commissioner said the project , which is already in its first two phases, had already gulped N300 million , saying over N100 million would be required for the third and final phase.

Mai Sherrif, who disclosed that the water supply scheme is expected to be completed before December, added that workers of the state Ministry for Water Resources were already laying pipes in the areas and that very soon the ministry will commence the drilling of 12 boreholes and construction of reservoir and over head tanks at the water works.

The commissioner also said that maintenance work at the Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant had started and will reduce water generation to between 26 and 27 million litres instead of 30 million litres.

He therefore implored residents of the state capital to bear with the ministry, stressing that by the time the maintenance work is completed, the plant will generate 40 million litres per day.

According to the commissioner, the boreholes which are spread across the metropolis are currently generating 15-20 million litres per day, saying by the time all on-going water projects are completed, there would be enough water for residents of Maiduguri as the ministry is expected to generate 60 million litres per day.