….government begins emergency repairs

By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government has commenced emergency measures to restore water supply following the rupture of a major pipeline that transports raw water to treatment facilities, disrupting water distribution across Sokoto metropolis and neighbouring communities.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Iya (Iyan Sokoto), gave the assurance on Wednesday during an inspection of the damaged pipeline section along the Sokoto River.

Leading officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and the Sokoto State Water Board, the commissioner assessed the extent of damage caused by the pipeline rupture, which occurred on Sunday night after a heavy downpour.

The affected pipeline conveys raw water from the Kware Water Intake to the New Extension Water Treatment Plant, a key facility supplying treated water to thousands of households and institutions in the state capital.

Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Iya described the incident as a major setback but assured residents that the government had already activated measures to restore services.

“The pipeline was submerged and several of its accessories were washed away. Consequently, the pumping of water to treatment facilities was disrupted, affecting the supply of potable water to residents across Sokoto metropolis and adjoining communities,” he said.

He noted that the government had directed relevant agencies to work round the clock to restore normal water supply and minimise the hardship caused by the disruption.

“We have already swung into action and are urgently working on alternative water supply routes to divert the pipeline and restore adequate water distribution to our people,” the commissioner said.

According to him, ongoing repairs have been complicated by high water levels and the accumulation of sand around the damaged section.

“We cannot complete the repairs immediately because the water level remains high and there is significant sand deposition around the affected area. Comprehensive repairs will be completed as soon as conditions permit,” he added.

Iya also disclosed that the state government had incorporated plans into the 2026 budget to modernise water infrastructure, replace obsolete equipment and strengthen the operational capacity of the Sokoto State Water Board.

“The administration recognises the urgent need to modernise our water infrastructure. Funds have been earmarked in the 2026 budget for new equipment, accessories and other critical facilities to replace aging and decayed infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for prioritising water supply under his Nine-Point Smart Agenda and praised Water Board personnel for their response to the emergency.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Sokoto State Water Board, Engr. Aminu Haruna Mika’ilu, said technical teams were deployed immediately after the incident and had been working continuously to restore services.

“Efforts are underway to fix this problem so that we can continue providing the people of Sokoto State with safe and reliable drinking water,” he said.

Mika’ilu disclosed that emergency measures, including the deployment of water tankers to hospitals, healthcare facilities and other critical institutions, had been activated to cushion the impact of the disruption.

He added that the incident had reinforced the board’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure resilience and improving service delivery.

“This development has further strengthened our resolve to ensure that every resident of Sokoto State has access to adequate and clean drinking water at all times. We will intensify pipeline maintenance, improve response time to faults and establish alternative supply measures to reduce the impact of future disruptions,” he said.

The Water Board boss appealed to residents to remain patient, conserve available water and follow official updates while repair works continue.

The inspection team included the Secretary of the Sokoto State Water Board, Alhaji Shuaibu Muhammad Boyi, as well as senior engineers and technical personnel overseeing the emergency intervention.

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