Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blamed the shortage of water supply in Abuja City Centre and numerous satellite towns on current restoration work at two of the four water treatment plants that serve the territory.
Water supplies will be rationed for the next two weeks, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media.
He clarified that it is because two treatment plants have temporarily shut down for rehabilitation, while the other two are still operating.
Residents were urged to exercise patient by Wike, who assured them that the ongoing rehabilitation would be finished in two weeks and was intended to improve service delivery.
To ease the impact during the Sallah celebration, the Minister said the two treatment plants undergoing repairs will be temporarily activated to provide water during the festive period.
Explaining the situation, Wike stated,” The FCT Water Board operates four water treatment plants of 30,000m3/hour, which are divided into Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4.
“As a result of the inefficiency of the plants, which are currently producing below their installed capacity, the contract was awarded for their rehabilitation to Messrs SCC Nigeria Limited.
“The rehabilitation works have reached an advanced stage on Phases 1 and 2 where the Electro-mechanical equipment, which is the prime mover of the treatment plants is to be replaced and reinstalled.
“This warranted a total shutdown of the two plants, which are interconnected.
However, Phases 3 and 4 water treatment plants are operational but won’t sustain, meet or cater for the demand of the populace.”
He emphasised that the situation is a partial, not total, shutdown of potable water supply in the FCT, as two treatment plants remain in use. Nonetheless, there will be supply disruptions.
Wike further assured residents that the contractors, SCC Nigeria Limited, are working around the clock to complete the rehabilitation ahead of schedule.
He advised residents to store sufficient water to meet their daily needs during the period of rationing.
“Consequently, in order to minimize the adverse effects on the FCT residents, the Water Board has made a timetable on rationing by alternating between Lines 1 and 2 of the Distribution network.
“Residents are therefore urged to store enough water to cater for their needs during this period as supply will be rationed,”Wike added.
