Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has appealed to residents of the state, particularly those in the Minna metropolis, to exercise patience with his administration over the ongoing water shortage.
In a statement released on Saturday by Ibrahim Bologi, the governor’s aide, the governor assured that concrete steps are being taken to resolve the challenge.
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He attributed the water supply challenges to decayed and obsolete infrastructure inherited by his administration, noting that many pipelines are broken, outdated, and overstretched due to ongoing construction activities and the growing population in the state capital.
“The government is very, very concerned about issues that have to do with potable drinking water,” the governor said. “We inherited decades of neglect of pipelines; most of them are broken, and they are more than 30 or 40 years old.”
He explained that his administration is implementing a comprehensive overhaul of the water system to ensure a permanent solution, while also introducing temporary measures to ease the hardship faced by residents.
“I want to reassure the citizens of Niger State that we are doing everything possible to desilt the Togwai Dam, change all the pipes and the articulation system in the state capital, and expand articulation networks and reservoirs so that everybody will have access to potable drinking water,” Bago said.
According to him, the state government has commenced interim interventions to cushion the effects of the shortage. “In the meantime, we are deploying water tankers for distribution to residents, and we are collaborating with development partners to drill boreholes in communities so that people can have access to safe drinking water,” he added.
The governor acknowledged the difficulties residents are currently facing but urged them to remain patient. “We know it is painful now for people, but this process will bring a lasting solution. We appeal to the people of Niger State to exercise patience with the government during this exercise,” he said.
Speaking further, Governor Bago also addressed the issue of epileptic power supply in the state, encouraging residents to explore alternative energy sources for their daily needs.
He disclosed that the state government has already transitioned key public facilities, including hospitals, schools and the Government House, off the national grid to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
The governor also commended journalists in the state for their support, urging them to continue to report government activities objectively and without sentiment.
