World Water Day: Gombe Governor Restate Commitment to Sustainable Access to Clean,Safe drinking Water to Citizens.
By, Abdulwahab Muhammad Bauchi.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s World Water Day message highlights his administration’s commitment to expanding access to clean and safe drinking water in Gombe State. Since assuming office in 2019, his government has prioritized investments in water infrastructure, resource management, and climate-resilient systems to address water challenges across the state.
Key initiatives include the expansion and upgrade of the Gombe Regional Water Supply Scheme, aimed at improving distribution to underserved communities. In rural areas, the administration has constructed solar-powered boreholes to provide sustainable water solutions for remote communities facing acute shortages.
Programs such as the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES), and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project have facilitated the construction of hundreds of boreholes to enhance water availability.
To strengthen governance, the state established the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STWSSA) in 2023 to bridge the gap between urban and rural water services. Additionally, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) units in local government areas have been upgraded into full-fledged departments to improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed that water supply remains integrated into government policies, including health sector revitalization, ensuring that upgraded healthcare facilities have solar-powered water sources for improved hygiene and service delivery.
As part of his long-term vision outlined in the Development Agenda for Gombe State (DEVAGOM), the governor emphasized the need for stakeholder collaboration in protecting water resources, preventing pollution, and promoting sustainable water management practices for the benefit of future generations.