BY USMAN GARBA ABUBAKAR
For years, the water crisis in Sokoto State has been an unrelenting burden on the residents of the state capital, Sokoto, and its surrounding communities. This hardship, characterized by dry taps, reliance on unhygienic water sources, and failed promises of the Aminu Tambuwal administration, had stubbornly defied solutions, until the coming of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto in 2023. In a remarkable achievement the governor has frontally solved the problem with the commissioning of the old airport water supply project.
The commissioning of the new water project by Governor Mai Bunu Mala as part of the activities marking Governor Sokoto’s second anniversary marks not just a milestone, but a profound declaration of victory over the problem of water shortages in Sokoto. Governor Aliyu has permanently broken the jinx.
This is more than an infrastructural project; it is a commitment to the health, dignity, and economic prosperity of Sokoto residents. It is a clear message that access to clean, safe, and reliable water is not a privilege but a basic right for the citizens.
Water scarcity in Sokoto metropolis is not a recent development. For decades, the rapidly growing population outpaced the capacity of the existing water infrastructure. What was once sufficient for a modest city centre soon became grossly inadequate as Sokoto expanded into new districts, settlements, and commercial hubs. While former governor Aliyu Wamakko recognized the crisis and took steps to address them by initiating six(6) water supply projects with a total capacity of 40 million liters per day, Tambuwal as usual abandoned them.
During the administration of Tambuwal, international donors, including various development agencies and NGOs, launched interventions to resolve the crisis but largely unsuccessful. However, because these efforts were piecemeal, they didn’t succeed in solving the problem.
Perhaps, the most significant previous step was taken during the administration of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, whose government recognized the urgency of the problem and initiated plans for comprehensive water projects. However, the subsequent administration under Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal shelved these efforts. What followed was a painful continuation of water scarcity that deepened residents’ frustrations and forced many to resort to unsafe water sources.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s commissioning of the revitalized water project signals a watershed moment in Sokoto’s history, both literally and figuratively. In his speech during the commissioning, Governor Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to break the historical cycle of abandoned and failed water projects. He described the project not just as an infrastructural achievement but as the birth of “a new era of water in abundance for Sokoto.”
The governor emphasized that the delay in the project was not due to lack of will, but the logistical realities associated with manufacturing and installing specialized water equipment. The high capacity pumps, modern filtration systems, and reinforced transmission lines required months of production, transportation, and rigorous testing before final installation.
Today, with the completion of this critical infrastructure, the people of Sokoto can look forward to regular water supply meeting the growing demands of the metropolis. To understand the scale of this achievement, one must appreciate Sokoto’s growing water needs. The city, once designed for a population far smaller than its current size, now grapples with rapid urbanization.
Estimates show that Sokoto metropolis requires between 60 million to 80 million litres of water daily to meet residential, commercial, and institutional demands. This figure is continually rising due to population growth, expansion of suburbs, new housing estates, and a burgeoning industrial sector.
Before Governor’s commendable intervention, the existing water facilities were producing less than half of total requirement, leading to rationing, dry pipes, and complete service outages in some neighbourhoods.
The implications of this water project go beyond convenience; they touch directly on public health, quality of life, and economic development.
Reliable access to clean water is the cornerstone of public health. For years, Sokoto residents suffered outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea. Contaminated wells and unregulated water vendors became the default sources of water for many residents.
With the completion of the new project, residents will have access to treated water that meets the highest safety standards, drastically reducing the prevalence of water-borne diseases and improving overall community health. Fetching water from distant locations— a task disproportionately borne by women and children – will now become a thing of the past for many families. Having running water at home restores dignity and allows families to focus on education, work, and social development.
Water is a fundamental driver of commerce and industry. From small-scale food vendors to large-scale manufacturing plants, the availability of water determines operational efficiency. This project will catalyse new business opportunities, attract investors, and spur job creation in Sokoto metropolis.
It’s important that Governor Ahmad Aliyu reminded citizens that the success and sustainability of this project depend on their collective responsibility. Water infrastructure is expensive to build and even more costly to maintain if not properly used. Water supply is a public service, but it requires funding for continued maintenance and upgrades.
It’s thus important that consumers pay their bills.Residents should pay their water bills promptly. This is not just a civic duty but a contribution toward ensuring that future generations continue to enjoy uninterrupted water supply.
Leakages and burst pipes are common sources of water loss. The people must promptly report any faults they observe in their neighbourhoods. Not only does this prevent wastage, but it also reduces the risk of water contamination. The availability of water should not lead to wastage. Residents would do well to heed government’s call on them to practice water conservation measures, using water responsibly for domestic chores, gardening, and commercial activities.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu explained that the long lead time for the project was due to the nature of the equipment involved. Unlike off-the-shelf consumer products, industrial grade water treatment and distribution equipment requires precise customization. Many of the pumps and filtration units are produced abroad and had to be built to specification. After production, shipping logistics, customs clearance, installation, and rigorous testing further extended the timeline.
However, this painstaking process was necessary to ensure durability, efficiency, and long-term reliability.
As the governor further stated, commissioning the water project is more than the opening of valves, it represented the fulfilment of a promise he made to the people of Sokoto when he sought the mandate to govern. It is a bold statement that governance is about solving problems that matter most to the people.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu has not only honoured the efforts of past leaders like Senator Aliyu Wamakko, who first initiated the vision for an improved water system, but he has also corrected the course after years of stagnation under the immediate past administration.
It’s gladdening that the governor has pledged continuous investment in water infrastructure, including: Expansion of water supply to newly developing suburbs, introduction of smart metering to ensure accurate billing and regular maintenance programs to ensure sustainability.
The completion of the five(5) other projects will add a total 40 million liters day to the existing capacity.
This is a rallying cry for both the government and the people of Sokoto. The governor has done his part by breaking the jinx; it is now time for the residents to embrace a new culture of responsibility, prompt payment of water bills, and judicious water stewardship.
Indeed, it worth celebrating that the era of water scarcity in Sokoto metropolis is ending, while a new dawn of water in abundance has arrived.
*Abubakar writes from Abuja
