The Plateau State Water Board has concluded arrangements to seek $ 50 million loan from the French Development Agency(AFD) to upgrade its infrastructural and institutional components.
Chairman of the Board ,Hon Sunday Dung made this disclosure at the
maiden meeting of Board of Directors and Management of the state water
Board held in Jos at the week end.
He tasked the Board to provide adequate portable water andsustainable water supply to the general Plateau public and other areas
such as Agriculture and industries in the state at reasonable charges.
He said when the loan is secured, the state water Board could supply enough water to the Jos urban city and Bukuru metropolisresidents who are over one million people.
Dung further disclosed that in order to be able to meet up with their
target, the state water Board might be reorganized to be able to stand
on its feet as a corporate body or a limited liability company to enable
it repay the loan per terms of agreement.
He solicited the corporation of the management and staff of the state
water Board so that “ they can be able to make tremendous impact if the
water Board mean business to supply to supply to Plateau public
adequate water supply under the current dispensation in the state.
Dung warned that any staff or group within the management of the
Board who makes attempts to sabotage the good works of the Board
directly or indirectly would be dealt with accordingly while hard
working staff would be adequately rewarded.
He advised the management to make sure enough water is supplied to
the public to create room for collection effective and efficient revenue
into the covers of the state government.
Earlier, in his welcome address at the meeting, the General Manager
of the Plateau State Water Board , Lambert Isa –Gonzuk,said the Board
has made giant strides over the years in the area of supplying of
potable pipe borne water to the people of Plateau state,adding that
several communities that had not enjoyed water supply for 10 years were
restored supply under the current administration in the state.
Gonzuk ,however, said the state water Board management is battling
with the challenges of illegal human activities on their Dam and
catchment areas in the state and as well problem of land encroachment on
its properties and non- functional water supply facilities in its
outstations in the state.