Hon.Noel Nkup, Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, Plateau State

Not only do individuals need clean water, but entire communities need clean water. Communities need clean water that is safe to use for household cooking, washing, and sanitation. 

It is in the realization of this that the Plateau State Government under the leadership of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang is spending over N5billion naira for the rehabilitation of water treatment plants in Wase, Langtang North and Bokkos local governments in addition to networking of these local governments with water pipes of different sizes.

This revelation by the Plateau State Commissioner of Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Noel Nkup on the occasion of handing over of the said project sites to contractors by PLAMWASSA, a newly established agency under the ministry of water resources, under the able leadership of Engr. Julius Akawu as its General Manager.

The Commissioner said that the project is subdivided into three parts which include the rural, urban and small town components of it.

He added that the commencement of work in the three local governments fell under the third component of the project with a contract sum of Three Billion (N3,000,000,000.00) naira. 

The excercise in Wase will involved the rehabilitation of water treatment plant while construction of new plant will also take place.

There would also be networking of Wase town with pipes of different sizes as well as drilling of 10 industrial boreholes.
Langtang North water treatment plant

In Langtang North local government, the project site was handed over to the contractors who will also carry out rehabilitation of the treatment plant and networking of Langtang North township with water pipes of different sizes

The rehabilitation of Bokkos water treatment plant and the networking of Bokkos township was also handed over to the contractor.

Hon. Nkup further stated that the rural component of the project would be extended to villages of the three local governments, "whereby, over 50 communities will benefit from simple water supply (that is, construction of new hand pumps).

"Also, plans are underway to rehabilitate the broken down water facilities in the rural areas of the state which has commenced in these three local governments"

Nkup added that the sanitation and the hygiene components of the project were also ongoing stressing that Primary Health Care centres and schools will be provided with simple solar borehole and sanitary facility. This, the commissioner said is to ensure that school children in villages and Primary health centres have quality water supplies.

The Hon. Commissioner added that the contract for the Jos-Bukuru metropolis which falls under the second component of the project has also been awarded to a contractor in the sum of Two Billion (N2,000,000,000.00) naira and will soon commenced.

The project, called SURWASH, State Urban Rural Water Supply and Hygiene Sanitation, according to the Hon. Commissioner is not limited to only Wase Langtang North and Bokkos local government areas. According to him, "it is an ongoing program. We just started with the three local governments. We are already undertaking the soft component of this work in Mangu Local Government.

"There are procedures for these jobs that must be followed before commencement and we have to meet up with the requirements before we can be able to implement such a project in a local government.

"We have our 2024 work plan which we are scaling to meet up with the demands of our people. His Excellency, Barr Caleb Mutfwang is doing everything possible to make sure all the 17 local government benefit from this program", Hon. Nkup said.

The Commissioner further said that the aim of the program is to ensure that the people of Plateau have access to portable drinking water in line with the campaign promise of Gov Caleb Mutfwang.

In the light of the above, the Hon. Nkup called on the beneficiary communities to give maximum cooperation to the contractors handling the projects and also ensured the protection of the facilities.

"We came and handed over these projects to the contractors and we did not carry the excercise alone but with the Chairmen of the beneficiary local governments, traditional rulers and stakeholders.

"My call at the moment to the people of Wase, Langtang North and Bokkos local government Councils is that they should give maximum cooperation to the contractors on ground.

"The government has done its best in providing these facilities, it is the duty of members of the beneficiary communities to protect them.

"We have equally pleaded with the contractors to consider the youths of the beneficiary communities who have technical skills in the execution of the projects for purpose of empowerment and easy maintenance of the facilities", Hon. Noel Nkup said.

The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairmen of the three Local Government Councils all expressed delight and happiness over the development and promised to do all that is possible within their powers to ensure the contractors succeed in the execution of the projects.

Hon. Hamisu Anani is the Chairman of Wase Local Government who noted that with the intervention of PLAMWASSA, the drinking water contamination that made people of Wase always ill would be a thing of the past.

"I therefore call on the people of Wase to continue to take action and protect the water treatment plant and you would see the benefits which include public health, environment and economic saving", the Chairman said.

In his submission, the Emir of Wase HRH Dr. Mohammed Sambo Haruna who was represented by the Rekna Bashar, HRH Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Idris promised to give maximum cooperation and support to the contractors.

In the light of this, the traditional ruler directed all the District and Village Heads to summoned meetings to enlightened, most especially youths and other members of their various villages on the new development and the need to cooperate with the contractors handling the projects.

In Langtang North, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman, Hon. Godwin Nanmwa Kumzhi also expressed appreciation to His Excellency Barr. Caleb Mutfwang for the wonderful gesture to the people of the local government area. "To us, water is a gold mine, to us, water is life". 

The Chairman said that clean and safe water is a fundamental necessity for humans and animals saying that the significance of water cannot be overemphasize because.

Hon. Kumzhi seized the opportunity to comment Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his resilience and doggedness in piloting the affairs of the state even in the midst of many challenges. 

He assured the contractors handling the project of his support and that of the people of Langtang North local government.

Hon. Monday Kassam, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council also appreciated Gov. Mutfwang for the initiative. Represented by the Deputy Director, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) department Bokkos Local Government, Mrs. Martha Paul Gotus, the Chairman called on the contractors to speed up the work according to specifications and terms of reference for the people of Bokkos to enjoy water supply.

In his submission, the District Head of Bokkos, Da Monday Adaci said their happiness and joy knew no bounds and commended Gov Mutfwang for coming up with programs and projects that would impact the lives of rural dwellers.

The traditional ruler called on the people of the area to give the needed support to the current government of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang. He also gave assurance of the support of the people of Bokkos to the contractors handling the projects.

The contractors handling the projects while speaking to African Drum expressed their happiness to be associated with members of their host communities.

Arch. Shok Cornelius with Halcium General Mechants handling Wase treatment,plant, Ayo Adegoke with Unity Deotechnical Nigeria Limited handling Langtang North treatment plant and Afsa Clement Retu with Belmont Nigeria Limited handling the Bokkos water project all promised their commitment to working according to specifications as laid by the consultants.

"Standard is the key and we intend to finish the projects on time. We therefore call on traditional rulers, stakeholders and other members of the these communities to give us the maximum support and cooperation", Arch. Cornelius said.