The Kebbi government says it has recorded significant progress in efforts to revitalise the Birnin Kebbi waterworks to restore normal water supply to the state capital.

The secretary to the state government, Yakubu Bala-Tafida, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of ongoing repair works at the facility.

Mr Bala-Tafida said Governor Nasir Idris had constituted a task force to ensure the speedy resuscitation of the waterworks supplying Birnin Kebbi township.

He added that the task force comprises the SSG, the information commissioner, Yakubu Ahmed-BK, officials of the Ministry of Water Resources, security agencies and technical staff of the Kebbi State Water Board.

He said, “We have seen remarkable progress in the effort to resuscitate the waterworks. We will remain on the ground until everything that needs to be done is completed.”

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Isah Arzika, explained that engineers had detected a major burst at the Dukki waterworks shortly after the lifting period on Wednesday.

He said that by the time the engineers arrived, the lifting machines had already been submerged, but swift action was taken to shut them down to minimise damage.

Mr Arzika added that pumping machines had since been sourced and deployed to evacuate flooded areas. 

He added, “Fortunately, the evacuation was completed by about 11:00 p.m. yesterday. As you can see, the six intake machines are now visible and no longer submerged.”

The permanent secretary noted that a team of engineers was already on site to dismantle the machines and move them for proper drying and testing.

“We are confident that the machines will function properly after drying and testing. Whatever needs to be done will be done,” Mr Arzika stated.

He appealed to the public for patience, assuring that the state government was doing everything humanly possible to restore the normal water supply.

The general manager of the water board, Zayyanu Shehu, also assured residents that the water supply would be fully restored within one week. 

(NAN)