Dan’iya urges Sokoto govt to publish water projects account

File: Sokoto State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya

The Sokoto State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya has queried the state government over the persistent shortage of potable water in Sokoto metropolis and other parts of the state.

Dan’iya, in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, expressed concern that residents were still being forced to spend scarce household resources buying water for drinking, cooking and cleaning other domestic needs, more than three years into the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

He said the situation was unacceptable, particularly because the government had repeatedly announced major investments and interventions aimed at resolving the water crisis.

According to him, the state’s 2026 Citizens Budget provides N25 billion for the rehabilitation of the Sokoto Township Water Works and another N5 billion for the purchase and installation of solar-powered energy for State Water Board pumping stations.

Dan’iya, however, said the Q1, 2026 Budget Implementation Report recorded only N64.09 million, representing 2.1 per cent of the N3.106 billion original budget of the Ministry of Water Resources, as performance during the first quarter.

He, therefore, queried the government to account for the funds budgeted for the sector and to explain why residents were still experiencing water shortages.

“After the billions appropriated and the repeated announcements of projects, where is the water?” he asked.

The former deputy governor also recalled the government’s announcement in May 2026 that it had awarded a contract for the installation of 10,000 solar panels at Sokoto Water Works.

He said the government had stated that the project would generate 4.2 megawatts and help end the perennial water shortage in Sokoto and its environs.

Dan’iya, who further referred to six major water schemes—Tamaje, Old Airport, Gagi, Mana, Runjin Sambo and Ruga Liman—which the government reportedly said would have a combined projected output of 40 million gallons of water daily at an estimated cost of ₦14.1 billion, maintained that the continued shortage of water supply despite the announcements raised questions about the implementation and funding of the projects.

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“A serious government should not allow a basic necessity like potable water to remain trapped in correspondence, approvals and bureaucratic processes while citizens are buying water every day,” Dan’iya said.

He also questioned the status of the electricity project meant to power the water infrastructure, arguing that the availability of functional pumping facilities depended on a reliable energy supply.

The ADC candidate said residents should not be expected to celebrate the government’s announcements while continuing to depend on water vendors for their daily needs.

He cited a 2025 report which documented residents as paying between N200 and N300 for a 25-litre container of water, compared with the about N50 previously, with some residents reportedly trekking long distances in search of water.

While acknowledging reported repairs of damaged pipelines and other interventions by the government, Dan’iya said such measures could not replace a sustainable water supply system capable of meeting the needs of the state’s growing population.

Thus, he challenged Governor Aliyu’s administration to publish a comprehensive account of the water projects, including the amounts budgeted, funds released and spent, projects completed, outstanding works and timelines for restoring reliable potable water supply.

“Water is not a campaign promise to be repeated every four years but a fundamental responsibility of the government,” Dan’iya insisted.

“The people of Sokoto did not vote for announcements; they voted for solutions. Three years and more is enough time to demonstrate measurable progress. We cannot continue to commission promises while our people continue to buy water.”

He called for urgent action to address the crisis, saying Sokoto residents deserve access to clean and reliable water rather than repeated assurances that solutions were forthcoming.