Kwara Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Potable Water Supply, Infrastructure
Kwara Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade
By Taiwo Ogunniyi
The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to providing clean and potable water to residents across the state.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, made this known during an inter-ministerial press briefing at the Ministry of Finance, Ilorin.
Lade highlighted the government’s recent efforts, including the renovation of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) in Ilorin, the first in 20 years.
He further disclosed that the state has paid N300 million in counterpart funding to initiate the Partnership for Expansion of Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (P-WASH) Programme aimed at eradicating open defecation.
This initiative has boosted Kwara’s hygiene rating, positioning it above several other states.
As part of a long-term vision, Hon. Lade revealed that the government has developed a 30-year master plan in collaboration with the African Development Bank to manage the state’s water resources efficiently.
In a bid to enhance agriculture, the Commissioner announced that the state is partnering with the World Bank to introduce irrigation farming. Needs assessments have already been conducted for the Omu-Aran, Duku Lade, and Malete dams in line with World Bank requirements.
“Further infrastructure improvements include the reconstruction of the Sobi Dam, recently affected by flooding, and the rehabilitation of waterworks in Lafiagi and Zambufu.
“The Ira waterworks in Oyun LGA have been completed, with a 200KVA transformer connected to the national grid.
“The administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has also completed the Oke-Onigbin and Jeromo Oshin waterworks, while numerous hand pumps and solar-powered boreholes have been drilled across the state’s senatorial districts,” Hon. Lade added.
In an effort to improve service delivery, the government has replaced rusted pipes in parts of Ilorin and procured motorcycles for RUWASSA and the State Water Corporation to ensure efficient monitoring.
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