Most government parastatals and private organizations are owing Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Water Board about N1.8 billion.
The Acting Director, of FCT, Water Board, Aliyu Nahuche, who gave the figure yesterday, it was learnt yesterday.
It was at a news conference as part of activities marking the two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration also disclosed that the board was able to generate N1.5 billion in 2016.
According to him: We were able to generate N1.5 billion for 2016, as our Internally Generated Revenue,(IGR). As a revenue generating entity, the board remits its IGR to the FCTA Treasury from where it receives a monthly operating cost which is used to fund its recurrent expenditure while the capital projects are funded from appropriation by the National Assembly, the FCT Statutory Allocation.”
The Acting Director who refused to disclose the agencies and individuals owing the board said: “We are being owed N1.8 billion. The agencies that are owing are mostly government parastatals”.
On efforts being made to recover the debt, Nahuche said, “We have already set up a taskforce to recover the money being owed. We plead with them to pay. Disconnecting them is the last result for us”.
When asked about release of water from Usman Dam, he said the board will never release water except with a notice to the whole of Abuja residents.
Nahuche said absence of an Enabling Act and ageing infrastructure is among most challenges and constraints faced by the board.
His words: “The board lacks the legal personality and autonomy to carry out some functions. These lacks of legal status has denied the board the power to amongst others, prosecute water bills defaulters/vandalizes of pipeline etc. Increase in population without corresponding increase in water supply infrastructure
“Due to age and constrains utilization, some of the major infrastructure are in dire need of rehabilitation for them to function optimally. However, some of these facilities are presently being overhauled. These include the treatment plant and the Booster Stations.” “First of all if we are going to release water from Usman Dam, we have to tell you the situation of the dam. The dam is supposed to trap water from any run off area, so that there won’t be disaster downstream. If we have plans to release water we will let you know. We would make announcements”.
He continued: “On Kubwa, Usman dam is one of the highest points in Abuja. Kubwa isn’t the only the downstream of Usman dam. In 2006 when Kubwa was flooded, it rained consecutively for two days (July 7 – 8), and that rain was more than the rain that fell in the whole of July.
“Most of the residents of Kubwa dump their refuse in the river channels and it blocked the channels. We even went to access the affected areas and we discovered the channels were blocked.
“Some residents in Kubwa ýbuilt on the water ways, there is the need to create awareness for people to stop building on water course. We don’t release water except it is planned and we need more water.
He said even though the board is backed by FCT law but it need customized law to allow them deliver their work efficiently.
“We are backed by laws in FCTA; we only want customized law to allow us to be delivering our work efficiently.