The Gombe State Government says it has spent N5.7 billion on various water projects within the state capital and surrounding towns from 2011 to date.
Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, disclosed this on Tuesday, when he received the Minister of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, in his office in Gombe.
Dankwanbo said the government had also approved the sum of N1.8 billion for the expansion of its water project to the Airport axis and the Gombe-Bauchi border.
According to him, out of the amount approved, N500 million has been released to the contractors to commence work immediately.
Dankwanbo described the state as “a difficult terrain for water projects’’, adding “finding water below 200 meters in the ground is not easy’’.
He said the only source of water in the state is the Dadin- Kowa dam, which he said the state government had spent a huge sum to maintain.
Dankwanbo commended President Muhammadu Buhari for prioritising the water sector, which he described as “very important’’.
“We have to commend the President for prioritising the water sector in the country.
“We urge him to maintain the tempo,” he said
Speaking earlier, Adamu said he was in the state on a working visit to inspect some projects like the Hydro Power project in the Dadin-Kowa dam and the Kwami-Gadam/Bojude water scheme among others.
He said some ecological fund projects in the state would also be inaugurated during the visit.
Adamu said the state had done fairly well in the area of water supply, but needed to improve in the area of sanitation.
He said the Federal Government was ready to do its part and also expect the state to do more.
The minister said there is a bill on national water resources at the National Assembly adding that once the bill is passed into law, the federal government would begin to support states government with up to 30 percent funding on specific water projects.
