Mr. Mohammed Fawu, the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, disclosed this at the conclusion of the 49th State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on Monday in Gombe.
He noted that Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has made significant investments to address water scarcity despite receiving limited returns on these efforts.
Fawu explained that while more communities have been connected to the water supply network, many consumers have failed to pay their bills after benefiting from the services. This, he said, presents a major challenge to the sustainability of water supply in the state.
“To tackle the water shortage, Governor Yahaya has established a committee led by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, to examine water production, distribution, and revenue generation,” he said.
“Since the administration began in 2019, more than N9 billion has been spent on producing and distributing water to residents. However, only about N146 million has been collected in revenue, which is insufficient.”
Fawu added that the committee will explore ways to improve water supply and increase revenue to ensure consistent service delivery.
He emphasized the need to revise water tariffs, noting that the current rates were set over 15 years ago and are no longer sustainable.
The committee is also expected to recommend technological solutions to enhance revenue collection and stabilize water supply.
The commissioner urged consumers to pay their water bills to support government efforts in sustaining and improving water services.
Separately, Mr. Nasiru Aliyu, Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Tourism, announced that the council approved N1.068 billion for the continuation of solar streetlight installations in Gombe metropolis.
Aliyu stated that the project is expected to be completed within eight weeks and will improve security and stimulate business activities in the city.
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