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| Photo: Metre Tester Base, installed at Abuja district Jalingo. |
By Umaru Emma
Water, they say is life. It is not disputable that the emergence of Gov Ishaku revived the water supply sector in the state. Such stride was achieved through the Rescue Mission Initiative(RMI) where the moribund water sector was transformed from provincial handling to digital operations, thereby leading to expansion of water project in various facets of development so as to meet the demand of ever growing number of people across the state, amidst rehabilitation of old staff, and engagement of refined hands to boost operation and maintenance in the state's water sector.
And Taraba State Water Supply Agency is the catalysing machine used by the leader of the Rescue Mission Initiative, Gov Ishaku to achieve some eye-catching feats in the water supply sector.
The Taraba State Water Supply Agency is a government's agency saddle with the responsibility of providing portable water to both developed and developing areas of the state numbering 40 towns and others suburbs across the state- Though the agency went to comatose in a poor growing state for more than eleven(11) months before the coming of Gov Darius Ishaku. Gov Ishaku swung into action after his swearing in and put his inaugural speech to action as pledged to release funds for the restoration of water supply to the people of Taraba in line with his mission of making water supply a top priority in his Rescue Agenda.
As a developer, Gov Ishaku noticed increasing population in Jalingo metropolis, due to relocation of people from sister states in the North-East subregion, especially those battling with the challenges of insurgency like Borno, Yobe and some parts of neighbouring Adamawa to the state, which has practically overstretched the inadequate water supply system in the state. He hurriedly saw need to arrest the looming water scarcity by reviving the dying water supply sector in the state by supplementing any afoot effort by external organisations to ameliorate the sufferings caused by water scarcity. To promote cordiality in water supply with the African Aid Organisation- Gov Ishaku first of all visit both her headquarters in Abidjan, and Nigerian Field Office, Abuja, respectively.
After setting a pace for the rebirth of water supply through his visit that built a dialogue mission with the AfDB, he quickly awarded a contract for the construction of a new water supply system tagged "Jalingo Primary Water Source" consisting of an infiltrating gallery, Pumping station, Water Treatment plant, Transmission line and additional 150km distribution network to further improve the water supply situation of the state capital.
The summary of achievement so for recorded by Gov Ishaku in the water sector in the past 2 years are;
* The restoration of water supply to Jalingo metropolis and other 29 towns through constant release of funds to the water supply agency for operation and maintenance of the state water supply system.
* The repair of dilapidated plants, pumps and equipment in all water installations in the state.
* Visit to the Country Director, African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigerian Field Office for collaboration and partnership towards meeting the state's water sector expectations.
* The award of new contracts for the Jalingo Primary Water Source to augment existing efforts.
* The payment of counter funds for JICA drilling rig which has been abandoned for almost 2 years.
* The drilling of over 100 boreholes in isolated communities across the state.
* The purchase of high class modern laboratory equipment for Water Quality Control.
* The purchase of Water Treatment Chemicals to ensure hygiene and people's health safety.
* The purchase of 500 water pumps to support irrigation and dry season farming in the state.
* The reactivation of mini -water supply system for Presidential Lodge, Jalingo.
* Stakeholders' benchmaking visit to Nairobi City Water & Sewage Kenya led by Gov Ishaku and other professionals.
* Engagement of 50 graduates with discipline in Engineering, Economics, Accounting, Business/Commercial among others, and sending them to Kenya for Hands-on-Training to cover manpower gap in the water sector.
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