By Sam Kaye, Borno
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Sunday, commissioned Azare mega water works in Hawul council Area in the southern part of Borno State.
The project built in record time was aimed at addressing the lingering water scarcity in Azare town and the adjoining communities.
Azare Water Works is one of the eight mega water projects initiated by the Zulum administration across the state.
While the water works in Ngarannam, Moramti, Pulka, Chibok and Azare have been completed those of Madinatu and Shokwari in Jere and Musari in Maiduguri are still ongoing.
The project has a combined capacity of 565,000-litre reservoir, and a 400,000ltrs corrugated surface tank raised on a reinforced concrete base and another 165,000ltrs corrugated overhead tank on a 12m height steel stanchion.
The facility is powered by 22,000kv solar power and equipped with 10Hp buster pumps. It has a 5km distribution reticulation network system and various types of batteries of taps along the distribution network.
The facility also comprises of clusters of over six basement solar-powered boreholes on depths ranging from 100m with a total discharge of more than 10 Iitres per second.
Performing the commissioning ceremony, Zulum said, “It is my singular honour and privilege to commission the Azare mega water works today, the 17th of March, 2024, to the glory of God and the benefit of humanity and this community.”
The Commissioner of water resources, Engr Tijjani Goni Alkali, recalled that Zulum’s administration has constructed over ten basements and hybrid boreholes, 17 hand pump boreholes and rehabilitated 20 hand pumps in Hawul council Area alone.
Engr Alkali explained that by completing the Azare mega water projects, the objective of providing potable water supply to the people of Hawul Council area is being achieved and incidences of water-borne diseases will be curtailed maximally.