Nigeria, Katsina: state doubles water, sanitation budget

Katsina State [pop. 6.5 million] Government says it has doubled appropriation for rural and urban water supply and sanitation [...] from last year’s less than two billion naira mark [US$ 13.6 million] to this year’s over N4.7 billion [US$ 32 million]. The State’s Water Resources Commissioner, Nasiru Danmusa, said the increase arose out of the current administration’s efforts at ensuring increase and access to safe water and sanitation; as well as increased partnership with stakeholders and external support agencies.

Danmusa said from 2007 to date, the state had spent over N267 million [US$ 1.8 million] on various developmental projects in the area of urban water as well as semi-urban water supply; including rehabilitation of water schemes and construction of new ones.

[T]o check problem of power outages which affects water supply, the state government is supplementing operation of the State Water Board through provision of diesel for utilisation of back-up generators at treatment plants.

Danmusa maintained that to further strengthen the capacity of the state’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), [the] government had [ordered] three sets of borehole drilling rigs with supporting vehicles and accessories.

He also stated that the state is collaborating with UNICEF in the development of a state-wide WASH Multi-Year Investment Plan and Sustainable Sector Policy, and that it is seeking the Federal Government, donor agencies and aid organisations for the completion of ongoing regional schemes and co-financing of new projects in the state.

Source: Danjuma Michael, This Day / allAfrica.com, 20 May 2009