The Emir of Katagum in Bauchi, Umar Farouk, has called on all tiers of government to prioritise the construction of more dams across the country as a sustainable solution to the growing scarcity of potable drinking water.

The emir made the call on Friday during a working visit to his palace in Azare by members of the Bauchi House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources.

He noted that the development of additional water infrastructure would ensure access to clean drinking water and support domestic and agricultural activities.

According to him, this aligns with the performance benchmarks of the current administration.

Mr Farouk identified the rapid population growth as a major factor contributing to the recurring water crisis.

He noted that the current dependence on boreholes, mostly provided by the government, politicians, and private individuals, was insufficient to meet the needs of the expanding population.

He expressed concern over the daily struggles of residents, many of whom were forced to trek long distances in search of safe water sources.

The emir appealed to the state government to consider constructing at least one dam in each of the state’s three senatorial districts to significantly improve water availability and alleviate the hardship caused by acute shortages.

He also commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his administration’s efforts in revamping the water sector.

Mr Farouk reaffirmed the commitment of traditional institutions to support government initiatives aimed at improving citizens’ welfare.

Earlier, the House Committee on Water Resources chairman, Ahmed Lele, stated that the committee’s visit aimed to assess the long-standing power supply project from Jama’are to Azare.

According to Mr Lele, the project was essential to boosting the water supply in the area.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the contractor’s delay in executing the project and assured that the committee would compile a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations for the state government.

(NAN)