Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has on Wednesday flagged off the ₦31.8 billion Zobe Phase 1B Water Project, an initiative that would end over four decades of waiting for clean water supply in the state.
Radda, while speaking at the event, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every citizen enjoys access to clean and safe water.
At the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Kafin Soli Booster Station, Governor Radda described the project as a “promise finally fulfilled,” noting that while the Zobe Dam was completed in 1983, its full potential to serve millions of people across Katsina had remained untapped.
He said, “this project is not just about pipes and pumps; it’s about life, health, and dignity.”
The Zobe Phase 1B Project will deliver potable water to communities including Karofi-Radda, Kafin Soli, Tafashiya, Kankia, Koda-Charanchi, Yarranda, Tashar Albasa, Are-Cika Koshi, Faduma, Tudun Kaadir, Rijiya Mai Siminti, Lambar Rimi, Abukur, Tashar Bala, and Batagarawa, among others.
The Governor noted that the Zobe Water Project aligns with the broader Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene initiative under the World Bank-supported SURWASH Programme, which is already expanding access to clean water in eight local government areas of the state.
He also revealed that rehabilitation works are ongoing at Ajiwa, Danja, and Sabuwa Dams as part of wider efforts to enhance water security and resilience across the state.
“Our goal is not just to build new systems but to create sustainable infrastructure that will serve generations to come,” he said.
He further disclosed that “Katsina State is actively participating in the World Bank’s Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, which includes approved designs for both Zobe and Danja Dams. Through this initiative, the state will benefit from improved irrigation, hydropower generation, and enhanced food security, all in line with his administration’s vision of a self-reliant and productive Katsina”.
Earlier in his welcome address, Bashir Gambo, the commissioner for Water Resources, described the flag-off as a major milestone in Governor Radda’s efforts to guarantee safe and reliable water for residents of Dutsin-Ma, Kankia, Charanchi, Batagarawa, and Katsina Local Government Areas.
He emphasised that the project reflects the Governor’s belief that access to clean water is a right, not a privilege, noting that the project will help reduce waterborne diseases, improve sanitation, and enhance the overall quality of life for citizens.
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Tukur Tinglin, the managing director of the Katsina State Water Board, explained that the Zobe Dam was originally designed to supply nearly half of Katsina’s daily water demand but had remained largely underutilised.
He stated that Phase 1A of the project, which involved the construction of the treatment plant, was completed in July 2022 and currently produces about 40 to 45 million litres of water per day, even though the Katsina metropolis alone requires over 130 million litres daily.
“That is why Phase 1B is so critical,” Engr. Tinglin said. “It extends the distribution network to homes, schools, and businesses, transforming forty years of waiting into a new era of progress and development.”
Liu Zhaolong, the group managing director of MCC Limited, the contractor handling the water project noted that the project has already improved agricultural activities and boosted local trade, showing how access to water drives economic growth.
