By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
Climate Change or global warming, refers to an increase in world temperatures, caused by an increase in Carbon dioxide around the earth. It affects the environment and indeed, the global economy. Climate change could have disastrous effects on Earth, especially on water and sanitation.
Flooding, one of the consequences of climate change, comes with huge destructions to infrastructure and livelihoods.
The greater Lokoja Waterworks had been submerged with extensive destruction to the public water supply network in the wake of the 2022 floods. Such adverse effects of climate change on water supply, had led to the disruption of portable water supply to residents of Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, north central Nigeria.
Kogi State Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, said at a news briefing in Lokoja that the massive ‘still floods’ in 2022, had damaged major components of the state water treatment plant, beyond the reach of the state government, as it now considers several options of resuscitation of the greater Lokoja Waterworks, built in 2010.
According to Engr. Farouk, the 2022 flood was an enormous ecological disaster that had destroyed six of the eight pumps, with extensive damage to the high leap Pump Station, chemical room and other vital components of the water treatment facility, located on the edge of river Niger, in the outskirts of the state capital.
Persistent water scarcity followed in the wake of the destruction of the water treatment plant by the ‘disastrous floods’, which caused present water scarcity in the state capital.
Engr. Farouk said Kogi State government needs about ten billion naira to restore water supply to Lokoja, amid vigorous efforts by Governor Ododo’s administration to restore uninterrupted water supply to the capital.
The Commissioner said relocation of the waterworks to a higher ground, would have been a better option for the state government, but relocation would cost government nearly 150 billion naira as construction of a new waterworks is inevitable, since vertical turbine pumps are required for rehabilitation and complete overhaul of the distribution network, with extensive reticulation.
The greater Lokoja Waterworks, with install capacity to produce 15 million gallons of portable water per day, could have produced 10 million gallons of water to the City of Lokoja, prior to its breakdown.
The Commissioner said the waterworks requires three stage of resuscitation due to the extensive damage to the facility.
“The state government has reached a decision to approach federal ministry of water resources and sanitation to seek intervention of federal government, among several other options available to government, while we consider the option of private sector involvement at reasonable cost to consumers.
“The old Lokoja Waterworks, with capacity to produce 200 cubic meters per day is being resuscitated to serve as a backup to greater Lokoja Waterworks during turnaround maintenance, while government continues with the flood mitigation measures.
Farouk, however, assured Lokoja residents that Old Lokoja Waterworks would be ready to pump an estimated one million gallons of water to Lokoja residents in July, with the Governor’s commitment to ending the water scarcity.
“Governor Usman Ododo is resolutely committed to restoring uninterrupted water supply to Lokoja and other Cities in state as we can evidently point to the massive rehabilitation work on Okene waterworks as we intensify efforts to rehabilitate and expand Idah and Anyigba waterworks in line with our administration’s mission of rural water supply scheme.
“Sadly, the greatest impediment to rural water supply in the eastern part of the state is vandalization of water pipe and community resistance to water line extension.”
Farouk added that Kogi state government plans to harness Kampe, Omi, and Osara Dams for hydrological power supply to meet local demand for electricity, to enhance its industrialization drive.
