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People say water is life. People believe water is the foundation of health, education and economic development.
It has a significant impact on life. Lack of drinking water in a community affects the living standards of residents in any community. It also affects hygiene.
Women and children spend valuable time searching for drinking water in rural areas. This time could be used for other social and economic activities.
A UNICEF report says poor water and sanitation costs the Nigerian economy about 1.3 percent of its annual GDP. This is equivalent to about 1.9 trillion naira.
“These losses are reflected in lost productivity due to water- and sanitation-related diseases, time spent accessing water and sanitation services, and human losses from malnutrition and mortality,” the report said.
New Busa, Niger is a community in Nigeria where despite having abundant water resources, the supply of drinking water remained a challenge until the recent completion and handover of the New Busa Water Plant.
The project is being implemented by the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) and handed over to the Government of Niger.
On Tuesday, July 31, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akum, launched the water supply scheme, which had been abandoned for over 30 years, for the residents of New Busa, to great cheers from the residents.
The launch of this important project has brought joy to the people of New Busa and its environs, who commended N-HYPPADEC and the state government and sent positive prayers.
Also read: Youth groups praise restoration of Niger water project
The completion of this project is undoubtedly a testament to the good working relationship between the Niger State Government and N-HYPPADEC for the benefit of New Busa and its environs.
The Emir of Borgu, Mohammed Sani Halilu-Dantolo, said: “The commissioning of the hydropower plant is a promise that the Nigerian state has been fulfilling for half a century and a dream come true for the people of New Busa and its environs.
“About 60 years ago, when we started impounding water in the early 1960s to make way for the Kainji Lake, the dam and the power station, the Nigerian government through the Kainji Dam Authority promised the people of Old Busa the most basic human necessity – the provision of drinking water.
“The old Busa was located on the banks of River Niger while the new Busa where our people were resettled is 10 kilometres from the shores of Lake Kainji where the water is stagnant and therefore unfit for human consumption.
“It is a testament to the patriotism and maturity of the Borgu people that the residents of New Busa and its environs have been enduring the plight of drinking water scarcity for over half a century.
“The chronic lack of potable water is all the more sad considering that the largest lake in Nigeria is located in Borgu.”
The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, commended the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the project and ensuring its completion.
According to him, the project has been ongoing for nearly seventy years, “but when HYPPADDEC came, we made it our first activity and now it has been completed.”
Explaining how the project began, the General Manager recalled that the procurement process was launched in 2022.
“In February 2023, we awarded 10 plots for the project, each designed to address a specific aspect of the water supply challenge in New Busa.”
Speaking about the scale of the project, Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa said: “We installed high-quality KSB intake pumps, high-lift pumps and booster pumps, complete with starter panels and main power distribution systems.
“This is the heart of the new water plant, ensuring a reliable water supply. The filter media system has been completely overhauled.
“We have cleared the sedimentation tanks of sludge and installed electric agitators. We supplied two new blowers, one of which has been serviced, to ensure proper backwashing of the filter media.
“We have desilted and fenced off the 1 million litre clear water tank and the 10 million litre township reservoir to increase the water storage capacity. We have built a new booster station with a 1 million litre Braithwaite water tank.
This is expected to increase water supply to local resettlement towns and the new layout of New Busa.
“We supplied enough water treatment chemicals to last for one year. This included 164 barrels of chlorine, 270 tons of aluminum sulfate and 20 tons of soda ash. The in-house laboratory was refurbished and equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure that the water supplied meets the highest quality and hygiene standards.
“We have renovated and fenced off the entire water treatment complex, staff quarters and office complex.
“To support operations and maintenance, we have provided a project vehicle and five Bajaj motorcycles,” he said.
According to him, the agency expanded the water network by 7km using 160mm pipes and added an additional 3km of 100mm pipes to bring water closer to more homes and businesses.
He said the old pipeline network had been repaired and maintenance materials needed for future maintenance had been provided.
“These improvements have brought a new dawn to New Busa. We have transformed a once dilapidated system into a modern, efficient water supply system.
“I am happy to announce that the water supplied by this rehabilitated water supply station meets the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO),” he said.
While launching the project, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akum, said: “This is about changing lives.
“Mothers no longer have to worry about the safety of the water they give their children.
He said time previously spent collecting water could now be spent on education, agriculture, business and families.
“Improving water supply will improve public health and reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases.
“It will support local businesses, attract investment and promote overall development of the New Busa township and its surrounding areas,” he said.
State Governor, Mohammed Bago, said drinking water remains the driving force of every socio-economic development, hence his administration has made it one of its major objectives.
“Our state has abundant water resources which need to be fully utilized to meet drinking water supply, agriculture, navigation, industrialization and recreation needs.
Also read: Federal Government of Niger launches water supply programme for Niger communities
“However, despite some progress in the past, facilities remain seriously inadequate. We are committed to implementing a sound infrastructure replacement and expansion programme in the sector.
“It is noteworthy that this administration has made the rehabilitation and revitalization of the water sector one of the key objectives of our New Niger Agenda.
“We must recognise that the water industry is capital intensive and significant investment is required to address the existing deficit in the sector,” the governor said.
However, residents of New Busa need to take responsibility for the project to ensure it is carefully guarded.
N-HYPPADEC has accomplished its mission and the success and sustainability of the project will largely depend on the residents of the area and its surroundings.
The government has made this major investment, but its long-term impact depends largely on how you handle it.
Residents of the area must treat the facility as their own. They must use water wisely and pay their water bills regularly to ensure its continued operation and maintenance.
Only in this way can society feel its impact to the greatest extent possible.
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