Maureen Okpe
The French Development Agency (AFD), has supported the Kano state Water Board with the sum of seventy-five million USD for the improved urban water project in the state.
The French Embassy in Nigeria disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, after the visit of the French Ambassador to Kano.
The statement noted that, the project is set at providing access to quality water as well as improve the framework of water structure in the state.
The statement reads in part: “The on-going Kano City Urban Water project being implemented by the Kano State Water Board (KnSWB) received a funding commitment of 75 MUSD from AFD to support the State improve Water Production, Distribution and Revenue Generation within Greater Kano.
“The Project Development Objectives are listed below:
1 Improve access and quality of water service in KnSWB’s areas of operations.
2 Improve the financial viability of KnSWB
3 Enhance the governance framework of the water sector in the State.
“The Ambassador visited the location of the proposed new intake station located on river Challawa and the nearby Challawa 2nd & 3rd Water Treatment Plants.
“With its 63,500 planned connexions, this project will provide access to potable water to 1.5 million inhabitants in Kano, including Women & Children.
“The project will also expand the distribution network by 27,000 m to bring water to new areas of Kano Municipal, Fagge, Nassarawa, Gwale and Dala Local governments.
“This support from the French Development Agency, AFD, will greatly contribute to the betterment of the living conditions of the inhabitants of Kano city through the improvement of the drinking water service” stated the French Ambassador at the site visit in Challawa.”
Managing Director of the KnSWB, commends the ongoing partnership between AFD and KnSWB, he explained that the technical and financial support provided by France to KnSWB through the AFD will enable the institution to improve services and quality of the water supply in the city of Kano as well as sustain the financial viability of KnSWB.