The Sokoto State government has announced measures to address the acute shortage of potable water confronting residents amidst high temperatures of over 42 degrees Celsius.

Taps have gone dry, and residents have been scampering to source water wherever it is available.

To assuage the situation, Yusuf Maccido, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, said the government had set up a committee headed by Deputy Governor Idris Gobir to deploy water tankers across the localities to provide immediate relief to residents.

The committee would also overhaul all broken-down water pumping engines and ensure the dredging of 72 earth dams in the medium and long term, Mr Maccido told journalists on Friday in Gusau.

The commissioner said funds had been disbursed to the committee to address the situation, adding that some water engineers and experts from Kaduna have been coopted to support the state water board in repairing and rehabilitating the facilities.

According to him, three of the pumping machines in Kware are being repaired to restore the water supply to the Sokoto metropolis.

He said the government hopes to fully address the issue of water scarcity in the next three years.

Mr Maccido explained that the government plans to replace obsolete machinery and complete the dredging of Bakalori, Goronyo, and Luga dams, the main sources of raw water processed by the state water board for supply to residents.

He added that arrangements were made to harness the Shagari dam for hydropower generation.

”We are targeting at least 80 per cent supply of potable water after rehabilitation of the systems; at present, below 20 per cent is being utilised.

”We are determined to ensure that dams, machinery, and other facilities function to high capacity before the end of the present administration’s tenure,” Mr Maccido said.

He appealed to the public for more understanding and assured them the government was fully committed to ending the biting water scarcity. 

(NAN)