By Fatima Saka
In a major push to improve access to clean water, the Federal Government has commissioned the Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State. The project, with a capacity of 3,200 million litres per day, is expected to provide safe and potable water to over one million residents.
During the commissioning on Tuesday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, the project underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing water scarcity in underserved communities as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at the commissioning held at the Gashua Water Works, Filin Tanda, Prof. Utsev described the project as a “significant intervention” to end decades of inadequate water supply in Gashua and its environs.
Constructed at a revised cost of ₦5.7 billion, the scheme includes four solar-powered borehole systems—one situated within a university campus—a modern water treatment plant, elevated and surface storage tanks, electro-mechanical and power infrastructure, and a robust transmission and distribution network.
The Minister formally handed over the facility to the Yobe State Government, calling for inclusive stakeholder engagement and sustainable management by the State Water Board.
Other federal water projects underway in Yobe include the Damaturu Lots A & B, Nguru, Fika/Gadaka, and Potiskum Water Supply Schemes.
Prof. Utsev lauded President Tinubu for prioritizing clean water access and thanked Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Emir of Bade, contractors, and ministry staff for their support in executing the project.
Yobe State Governor, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s intervention, noting the critical role of water in healthcare and socio-economic development. He referenced ongoing studies into the possible link between water quality and kidney-related ailments in Northern Yobe.
Former Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, emphasized that the project was conceived in response to repeated outbreaks of waterborne diseases in Gashua. He commended the Federal Government for its resolve to expand access to safe water nationwide.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, also urged local communities to take ownership of the facility to ensure its protection and long-term sustainability.
The ceremony concluded with the formal handover and commissioning of the facility, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to achieve universal access to clean water.
