The Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Yahaya M.D. Farouk, has assured that the current administration, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and his Ministry, is not sleeping over the scarcity of potable water in Lokoja and its environs.
Farouk, who gave the assurances during a press conference in his office on Friday in Lokoja, attributed the delay in getting the facility back on track to many factors.
The commissioner, who described the Greater Lokoja Water Treatment as one of the best in Nigeria, stressed that it could pump 10 million gallons of water per day, with provisions to expand that to 15 million gallons of water for the same day.
He, however, noted with regret that the October 2022 flooding in Lokoja submerged most of the vital equipment of the facility, including six electromechanical equipment and the high lift pumps, with huge costs, adding that the development brought the treatment and supply of potable water to a halt.
Faruk also told journalists that the equipment needed to be replaced to put the facility back in optimal condition is very expensive and would require months for it to be produced.
He said the state government, in its avowed determination to restore water to Lokoja, is presently considering three options for achieving such an ambition.
According to him, the government is considering outrightly relocating the site of the Greater Lokoja Water Treatment, whose cost, as he disclosed, stands at between N120 billion and N150 billion, excluding reticulation.
The second option, he added, was the possibility of relocating the two major flood-prone sections of the facility at a cost of between N70 billion and N90 billion.
According to the commissioner, the third option is to raise the equipment of the facility above the flood level of 2022, pointing out that this dream project also runs into billions of naira.
Answering questions from journalists after the press conference, the commissioner disclosed that the state government intends to contact the Federal Ministry of Water to look into the possibility of a public-private partnership, PPP, and state government financing to put the facility back on its feet to serve the purpose it was intended for.
Farouk said that while efforts are on for the restoration of potable water to residents, his ministry has embarked on the rehabilitation of the Old Lokoja Water Works to supply healthy water to some areas, among other interim measures pending when the Greater Lokoja Water Treatment will be back.
The commissioner disclosed that the state governor is having sleepless nights ensuring that taps run, pointing out that rather than run to fix the challenge, it has become imperative to look into solving the problem once and for all.
He mentioned that the project at its inception was hurriedly handed over without putting into consideration the challenge caused by climate change, adding that with the constant flooding of Lokoja since 2012, with the highest in 2022, it has become expedient to think of long-term solutions.
He said that with the differential in foreign exchange when compared to when the project was constructed, the huge cost outlay calls for patience and understanding on the part of the citizens.
The commissioner described Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as one committed to the well-being of the people of the state, stressing that, since his assumption of office, no day passes without the governor giving matching orders to the ministry officials to do all that is humanly possible to provide water to the people.
He mentioned that the state government is equally looking holistically at revamping all water facilities across the state.
The commissioner appreciated the patience and understanding thus far shown by the people of Lokoja metropolis.
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