The Kano State Government has approved N21.29 billion for the rehabilitation of Tamburawa and Challawa water treatment plants, alongside the restoration of key facilities, in a bid to address persistent water scarcity across the state.
This was disclosed by the Acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim, in a statement issued on Thursday in Kano.
A breakdown of the approved sum shows that N9.9 billion has been earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant and restoration of its raw water pump station, while N11.39 billion will cover the rehabilitation of the Challawa facility and restoration of the Goron Dutse Reservoirs.
What they are saying
Muhammad-Hashim explained that the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant, which has a capacity of 150 million litres per day, is currently operating at just about 27% due to flood damage to its raw water pump station in 2022.
He added that the Challawa plant, with a capacity of 220 million litres per day, is functioning at less than 30%.
- “Combined, both plants were built to supply 370 million litres daily but are now delivering far below that threshold, contributing directly to the widespread shortages being experienced across the state.”
He further noted that the Goron Dutse Reservoirs, a major distribution hub for Kano metropolis, have been rendered non-functional due to vandalism of critical components.
- “These realities explain the scale of the problem we face,” he said.
Get up to speed
Kano’s move reflects a growing trend among Nigerian states ramping up investments in water infrastructure to tackle supply challenges.
- In Lagos State, authorities recently launched a $2.5 million project to rehabilitate the Ojokoro waterworks and expand pipeline infrastructure across the Northern Business Region.
According to Titilola Oridami-Bright, Head of Strategy and Transformation at the Lagos Water Corporation, the project is expected to restore reliable water supply to tens of thousands of households, while improvements to the Iju/Adiyan pipeline network will extend access to an additional 28,000 residents.
- The state also noted that about 1.5 million residents are currently served by the public water system.
Similarly, Enugu State has reportedly invested about N70 billion in water projects between 2024 and 2026 to address longstanding supply issues.
What you should know
The water projects form part of a broader push by the Kano State government to upgrade infrastructure and improve service delivery.
- In January, the state approved N8.5 billion for various infrastructure, health, and education projects. This was followed by a N3 billion road intervention in February to expand and rehabilitate key access routes around Singer Market.
Amid these developments, Kano has recorded a significant rise in internally generated revenue, increasing from N74 billion in 2024 to N102 billion in 2025, according to data from the Kano Internal Revenue Service.
