The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it has financed a 100 million dollar project to provide 20,000 households with potable water in Zaria city.
A statement issued by the bank on Friday said that the project was carried out in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank through the Zaria Water Supply and Sanitation Expansion Project (ZWSESP).
It said that the project was contributing to government’s efforts to increase access to water and sanitation from 54 per cent and 32 per cent to 100 per cent, respectively, by 2020.
“The African Development Bank financing of 100 million dollar covers the rehabilitation and expansion of the distribution system for Zaria city and its environs,’’ it said.
According to AfDB, this component, which has achieved 100 per cent completion, includes the installation of over 500km of pipes and a brand new 150 million litre per day water treatment plant.
“It also includes the rehabilitation of two water treatment plants,’’ the statement added.
The bank said that a revolving social connection fund for low income households had been made operational to ensure that no family was left behind.
According to AfDB, the fund provides water to poor households at subsidised rates.
“Similarly, 200 sanitation facilities in schools and public places have been completed,’’ it added.
The statement quoted Mrs Hauwa Sani, a housewife in the city, as saying “when the water was first released, we filled up our water containers, large and small, for the days ahead when the taps would go dry again.
“Surprisingly, the next day the taps were still flowing; they haven’t stopped since then.
“For the first time in over 30 years, taps in 20,000 households in Zaria city in northern Nigeria are flowing with potable water.
“Women and children no longer have to walk long distances in the scorching sun to fetch water from community boreholes.
“The risk of exposure to water-borne diseases from drinking water sold by vendors will now reduce considerably,’’ the statement read in part.
On his part, 11 year old Zubair Abba said that since the age of six, he had to walk to the neighbourhood mosque to fetch water every morning.
Abba said that he made multiple trips daily to collect enough for his family’s domestic needs.
“I have never seen water flow from the tap in our courtyard. Not even a drop.
“Now my brother and I have less morning chore.
“It means we can get to school on time. On weekends, we can play football,” Abba said, according to the statement.
