Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has authorised the release of funds for the rehabilitation of the old Lokoja water works, which were submerged during the 2022 flood disaster.
The announcement was made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Yahaya Farouk, during an interactive session with journalists in Lokoja, the state capital, on Tuesday.
Farouk said that the old Lokoja Water Works will temporarily supply water to parts of Lokoja, the state capital, while the Greater Lokoja Water Works undergoes extensive repairs.
The Greater Lokoja Water Works has been in disrepair since being damaged by floods in 2012.
“The state government is taking decisive actions to replace the submerged equipment at the Greater Lokoja Water Works, although this process will require at least 12 months to complete,” said Farouk.
He said the administration is dedicated to resolving the water scarcity issues and appealed to residents for patience during the rehabilitation period.
Farouk assured the public, “By Friday, contractors will begin work on the rehabilitation of the old Lokoja water works. Governor Ododo has approved and funded this project. Water supply will soon return to the Lokoja metropolis.”
The Commissioner also addressed rumours that the reservoir for the old Lokoja water works had been sold, labelling these claims as false and the work of mischief-makers to discredit the government’s efforts.
During the session, Farouk also reported the arrest of suspects involved in vandalising armoured cables at the Greater Lokoja Water Works in Ganaja Village.
He said that an internal investigation had led to these arrests and that private security agencies played a role in identifying the culprits.
“We have arrested suspects who admitted to selling the armoured cables to someone in Ganaja,” Farouk disclosed.
He further stressed the importance of community involvement in safeguarding public infrastructure, commending the community of Ayegunle Gbede in Kogi East for their proactive efforts in protecting local water equipment.
“This community refused to allow auctioneers near our water equipment until they consulted the Ministry of Water Resources. This kind of vigilance should be replicated across the state,” he said.
Farouk assured that the procurement process for the Greater Lokoja Water Works is nearly complete, with about 80 percent of the plans finalised.
He expressed confidence in the government’s commitment to restoring the water plant to full functionality.
Finally, the Commissioner praised the positive relationship between the state government and journalists, acknowledging that this collaboration has contributed to rapid development and good governance in Kogi State.
