By John Bassey, Gusau
Kebbi State Government has reaffirmed its readiness to fully implement the $700 million Federal Government (FG)/World Bank-assisted Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) project in the North-West State.
A combined team from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the World Bank is currently in the state for an assessment of the water sector -a key step toward the programme’s rollout.
The development came as journalists and some security personnel in the state received training on transparent reporting as part of efforts to drive home to the grassroots official communication on impactful government policies.
Receiving the Federal Government delegation on Tuesday, April 15, in Birnin Kebbi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, expressed the state’s strong commitment to the successful execution of the project.
“The administration of Governor Nasir Idris is committed to meeting all requirements of the programme, including necessary budgetary provisions.
“In return, we expect the sponsors to also fulfill their obligations to ensure the success of the scheme,” he said.
The Team Leader and National Coordinator of the SURWASH Programme, Engr. Abdulhamid Adamu Gwaram, who also spoke, described Kebbi as a front-runner in the initiative.
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources recognizes Kebbi State’s commitment to implementing the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene project,” Gwaram said.
“The state has successfully graduated from the eligibility phase and is now in the second round, moving toward the final stage of readiness and accessibility,” he noted.
He emphasized that the programme operates on a results-based financing model, where access to funding depends on evidence of positive implementation and impact.
“We are confident that Kebbi State has the capacity, capability, and commitment to deliver,” he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Bello Abdullahi Ka’oje, lauded Gov. Idris for his dedication to partnering with both the Federal Government and the World Bank in enhancing sustainable water supply and sanitation across the state.
He was joined by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, during the team’s assessment tour of the state’s water supply infrastructure and related government initiatives.
In a related development, newsmen in the state are undergoing a training programme on transparent reporting –a necessity in any democracy.
To this end, a group, Search for Common Ground, a peace and conflict resolution non-governmental organization (NGO) intervention is anchoring the training which is billed to end on Thursday, April 17.
Security personnel are also part of the trainees.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing collaboration for peace and security for the Nigeria-Benin border communities, covers five states of Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara and Niger.
Selected journalists and security operatives drawn from commands in the five states are attending the programme which is underway at Azbir Hotel and Rayhaan University, Birnin Kebbi, the State capital.
State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, who delivered a keynote address at the opening of the programme, highlighted how Gov. Idris, on assumption of office two years ago, responded positively to tame the banditry menace in the southern part of the state where its magnitude had prevented farmers from assessing their farmlands.
He remarked that the initiative to interface with security agents at the highest level as well as the effectiveness of measures taken, proved to be sufficient to deal with the problem, leading to attainment of peace in the areas.
The Commissioner noted that the bumper harvest experienced during the last rainy season attested to the effectiveness of the efforts, expressing hope that this year’s wet season will be as successful.
The Commissioner, who described the training programme as timely and vital, reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to the restoration of peace in all parts of the state by encouraging cooperation between security forces and the civil population.
He welcomed participating journalists and security officers from the beneficiary states, to Kebbi State and invited them to a guided tour of the various “unprecedented infrastructure” facilities which the Idris’ government has provided within two years.
