When Governor Bello Aminu Masari took over the mantle of leadership in Katsina State on May 29, 2015, he was prepared to deliver democracy dividends to the people and rescue them from the shackles of gross mismanagement. This he has done effectively within two years. This is why Katsina State can boast of numerous developmental projects, which impact are felt by the people.
Masari has done well in many areas. For instance, in the area of provision of portable water supply, the administration’s intervention has led to the resuscitation, upgrading and expansion of many water supply projects across the state. Major works were carried out in six major water works to boost supply to towns and villages. The Ajiwa Water Works has a capacity of treating 50 million liters per day. It is serving Katsina and environ with potable water for both Domestic, Commercial and Industrial purposes. It is now a dilapidated condition operating at 40% of its install capacity.
To restore back the design capacity of both the Dam and the Treatment Plant the current administration through the Ministry of water Resources has entered in to a contract for the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Ajiwa Dam and Water Treatment Plant with Kaibo International Limited at the total cost of N1,996,861,690.85 with 40% advance payment of N798,744,676.34 already paid to the Contractor. The aim of the above Contract is to restore the actual designed production capacity of the Ajiwa Water Treatment Plant to its optimum designed capacity, by replacing the damaged and aged equipment of the plant, and repair of dilapidated structures. A new pumping station will be constructed in the contract.
Masari has awarded the Contract for the procurement and installation of 1No High Lift Pump, 3No Non return valves and 3No Butterfly valves at the total cost of N86,390,106.00 and also the award of another contract for the procurement and installation of 1000KVA transformer amounting to N9,855,000.00 at Ajiwa Water Works.
Malumfashi water supply scheme was constructed and commissioned in 1983 with a capacity of 4,500 cubic meters per day.
The scheme is meant to supply Water to Malumfashi, Kankara towns and the villages along the pipeline.
The flood of 2008 washed away a portion of the pumping main and High Tension line near Bonn dawa village, consequent upon which Malumfashi was cut-off from the Water Works thus making pumping of water from the Treatment Plant to Malumfashi town impossible. The damage was not attended to since then, until the coming of the present administration in 2015.
The administration awarded the Contract for the repairs of the damage portion in October, 2015 under the Emergency rehabilitation of Malumfashi water supply scheme, to the contractor M/S Central Lead Nigeria Limited, at the total cost of N141,705,983.05. The work has since been completed and water supply restored to Malumfashi town since March this year (2016) pictures attached.
The administration is in the process of awarding another contract to desilt the dam and expand it by raising the spillway level and embankment height to increase the storage capacity to a level that will facilitate future expansion of the treatment plant to at least double the present production capacity.
The Funtua Water Supply Scheme was in the early 80’s extended to Bakori and Kabomo towns. In 1993 boreholes were drilled and commissioned in Bakori in order to augment the Bakori and Kabomo water supply from Funtua due demand that was far above the supply from Funtua. The Bakori water supply which comprises seven number boreholes is also supplying water to Women Teachers College, Kabomo. The system is inadequate and is in need of expansion and rehabilitation. The current administration inherited a contract for the improvement of Bakori Water supply amounting to N47,440,442.00. The works are completed now. Another achievement of this administration in Funtua is the award of contract for the procurement and installation of 2No High Lift Pumps at the total cost of N28,907,570.00 this is to argument the water supply in Funtua and its environs.
The Daura Urban Water Supply Scheme which supplies water to Daura and Sandamu, consists of 22 bore holes with three numbers well fields. The scheme was out of operation for five years prior to the coming of Masari administration. The administration has completed the rehabilitation of the scheme at the total cost of N34,300,450.00. The Contract was completed and Daura is enjoying a daily water supply of about 5-million litres.
The 500KVA transformer for the Jibia Water Works was out of service (burnt) for a long time. The Scheme is using generator as source of power since the station was brought back to service over a year ago by the Masari administration. This administration has procured and installed a 75OKVA transformer amounting to N7,560,000.00. This is in addition of the supply of more diesel to run the scheme. Many areas which were hitherto not getting water are now supplied daily.
Prior to the coming of the Masari administration, the Dutsinma water supply scheme is operation for between 6-8 hours per day. Now it operates for 16 hours per day due to increased diesel supply by the State Government.
In agriculture sector, the availability of more water from our dam reservoirs allows for agricultural /irrigation activities to empower more people and ensure the food security of the nation. The water resources sector has also impacted on the industrial development of the State.
Disturbed by the dwindling fortunes of Katsina State due to Nigeria’s economic downturn, the administration of Governor Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari CFR came up with the Restoration Project with the view of restoring the lost glory of Katsina State particularly the agricultural sector that has hitherto supported the economy of the State and Nigeria at large. The Agricultural Restoration Project was therefore developed to correct the negative sector growth enhancers; low budgetary allocation, poor extension services, lack of infrastructures, zero financial and inputs support to farmers, very low mechanization of farm operations, poor agro-marketing structures and system, low staff moral, dependency of the rain for agricultural production.
In last year’s budget, agriculture had substantial allocation in the budget that was much higher than all the previous years. Priorities projects were develop to form the basic growth framework that will ensure effective governance of the sector and catalyze growth.
Records on farms, farmers and their production are key to effective planning and success of any development initiative. More importantly, government needs to know the number of its people engaged in farming activities, their categories, location and other parameters necessary for effective governance of the sector. The agricultural resources available in the State also need to be documented for proper planning, therefore, reliable and up to date data that eliminate blind planning and policy processes is of essence.
Katsina State Government has engaged over 2,000 youths, majority of whom are unemployed graduates in conducting the farmers’ data capture exercise to generate and store authentic data on farmers’ land size, location and soil type. This will put the State in a better stead for proper planning on extant and future projects and programmes.
In its effort to develop the economy based on agriculture through ensuring food security and providing raw materials for agro-allied industries, the government has chosen four value chain crops (rice, wheat, cotton and tomato) and aquaculture (fish production), Sheep and Goats. The State has secured Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) approval for participation in its Anchor Borrower’s Programme on massive production of these crops and livestock species. The programme will ensure adequate and timely provision of needed inputs to the participating farmers, while linkage to market is ensured through readily available up-takers.
ABP will begin with 20,000 famers for rice and wheat production for the 2016 dry season. This will be followed with cotton and tomato for the year 2017 and later aquaculture, sheep and goats will follow. As an additional boost, the State has keyed into the Competitive African Rice Initiative (CART), whose main objective is to facilitate the production of rice in a competitive manner (comparing with international standards), and the improvement of the output of the smallholder farmer.
There is no gainsaying the fact that agricultural mechanisation is very low in Nigeria and Katsina State in particular especially in the light of the devastating effect of cattle rustling on our farming activities. To mitigate this, Government is deploying 325 tractors, 1,083 power tillers; and 300 gravitational drip Irrigation kits to the farms in the State. Already 42, tractors are in the State and fifty more are expected before the end of October while the remaining balance will be available before the year 2016 ends.
