The Katsina State government says it has earmarked about N50 billion to execute various water-related projects across the state in 2025.

The managing director of the State Water Board, Tukur Tingilin, disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday while inaugurating grievance redress committees.

He also said that in 2025, the government would initiate various projects that would benefit the people, particularly in the provision of potable water across the state.

According to Mr Tingilin, the government committed N8.4 billion in 2024 as part of a N20 billion World Bank-supported project to overhaul, upgrade, and rehabilitate water facilities in 20 communities across five local government areas (LGAs).

Mr Tingilin explained that the aim of the project under World Bank NG-SURWASH was to improve water supply and infrastructure.

The official said the project would also involve the replacement of obsolete pipes, installation of new water systems, and general facility upgrades.

Mr Tingili explained that extensive consultations with stakeholders in affected communities were conducted to ensure the initiative’s success.

He said the grievance redress committees were inaugurated for Katsina/Batagarawa, Daura, Funtua Dutsinma and Malumfashi LGAs to ensure intervention whenever the need arises between the communities and contractors regarding the projects being executed.

“For instance, while executing the projects, and it passes through someone’s shop, the committee will intervene to ensure that the affected residents are compensated.

“Compensated in the sense that, when a water pipe is passing through the shop, the committee will ensure that anything broken must be fixed back.

“The committee is also responsible for monitoring the project’s implementation to ensure it meets the required quality and specifications,” he said.

Mr Tingilin explained that upgrading some water facilities across the communities was to meet the growing population in the areas.

“When those facilities were provided, the residents were not more than 200, but now they have increased to thousands.

“Those communities will also be provided with more water tanks, boreholes, and solar facilities, and also ensure their maintenance.

“The government is targeting to replace with the new, the old installed pipes across the Katsina metropolis because the areas are no longer supplied with water,” the managing director stated.

Mr Tingilin said Governor Dikko Radda’s administration remains committed to ensuring no community is left without a water supply.

In his remarks, the district head of Malumfashi, Sadiq Abdullahi-Mahuta, lauded the initiative and assured the traditional institution of support for its successful execution.

(NAN)