Saraki and Kwara Governor wasted almost N8Billion water funds without result, group kicks

Locals fetching dirty water at a river in Maigida ward, Moro Local Govt Area of Kwara State

Kwara Must Change demand explanation on why Ex- Kwara governor, Bukola Saraki and current Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed spent almost N8Billion on water project in 16 years without any result. In 2003, Bukola Saraki awarded a water contract of N2.3Billion and Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed also added another N5billion immediately he took over.

We need an explanation, on why the people of Kwara State have to endlessly continue endure so much hardship, pain and suffering due to government inability to provide basic necessity such as water.

Water is a necessity of life and its provision is a basic responsibility of all responsible government. Experts have told us that many water borne diseases can be prevented with availability of portable water to improve hygiene and healthy living, but unfortunately, the health of all Kwarans have been exposed to preventable diseases as a result of lack of water.

Kwara Must Change observes with sadness that, the 3 senatorial districts of Kwara State namely; Kwara Central, Kwara South and Kwara North are without water. Kwara Central, the senatorial district of Nigeria’s senate President Bukola Saraki doesn’t have water, despite the fact that Saraki is the immediate former Governor of the state who served for 8years. Kwara South, the senatorial district of the incumbent governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed is also without water, inspite the fact that he his already rounding up his 8 years tenure.


Youth Corp members searching for water at a stream in Share town in Ifelodun Local Govt Area of Kwara State

Similarly, Kwara North, the senatorial district of Kwara North Senator, Sha’aba Lafiaji is also without water, despite the fact that he his also a former governor of the state whom we heard is currently preparing to run for governor in 2019.
We cannot but wonder how these so called leaders sleep at night, knowing the hardship and suffering they put the people into.

On 7 June 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a cholera outbreak in Kwara State, Nigeria. The first cases of acute watery diarrhea were reported during the last week of April 2017 and a sharp increase in the number of cases and deaths has been observed since then. Cholera is water washed disease among other diseases. As of 30 June 2017, a total of 1558 suspected cases of cholera have been reported including 11 deaths (case fatality rate: 0.7%).

Similarly,in August 2017, strange illness reportedly breaks out in Kwara State, which instantly claimed more than 70 lives in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. The above stated examples are not the only instances of outbreak of diseases in the state which stern from lack of portable water, there are many more and they have continued to re-occur on yearly basis like an annual festival.

It is on this premise that Kwara Must Change is compelled to demand for a comprehensive explanation, on why the state government is yet to provide portable water for the people, after spending almost N8Billion on some water projects by both the administration of ex- governor Bukola Saraki and the present administration of Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, who have both spent a combined 4 tenure of almost 16 years in the helms of Affairs.

We must warn that, any attempt to provide a superficial explanation without adequate details maybe regretted by the state government, as the consequences may be far reaching and extra ordinary. What we demand is an in-depth, truthful and factual explanation of why such a huge amount of money is expended without any result.

Kwara Must Change is concerned that, despite the availability of two major dams (Asa and Agba) dam in the state capital and several other dams in other parts of the state, the people are still going through unimaginable suffering in their quest to have access to water.

We are aware that the water problem was almost solved about 3 decades ago when Sen. Sha’aba Lafiaji was the governor. However, Sha’aba Lafiagi misappropriated the money meant for water project in the state. This fact wasn’t hidden, as his conduct became the subject of a judicial inquiry headed by Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami and Sha’aba Lafiagi was indicted and told to return a significant sum of money to the state.


Locals fetching dirty water at a river in Patigi Local Govt Area of Kwara State

Notwithstanding the Senator Sha’aba’s looting of water funds, the suffering of the people almost came to an end when Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999 and the state governor, Admiral Alabi Lawal embarked on an aggressive water project.

Kwara Must Change is aware that late Governor Lawal began the expansion of Asa Dam and Agba Dam River with the intention of pumping more potable water to the people of the state through properly fixed pipelines. This followed the erection o‎f bigger reservoirs across Kwara Central senatorial districts in order to ensure water is pumped from both dams gets to the erected reservoirs in earnest so as to allow the residents of the state get potable water in the state capital and similar project to be later extended to other parts of the state. However, we regret to observe that until this day, Governor Lawal’s massive water project, which is more than 90% completed, is completely abandoned without any reasonable explanation.

Surprisingly, Bukola Saraki who took over from governor Lawal awarded another water contract worth N2.3 Billion immediately he assumed office in 2003, giving an impression that he was working on his own water project for the people. However, after spending 8 years in office, nothing was done and the N2.3 Billion is yet to be accounted for.

We note also that, the Abdulfatai Ahmed led administration, who came in under the platform of legacy continues have also not done anything better in this regard. Governor Ahmed also committed another N5 billion to the so called water project, yet there is still nothing to show for it. The administration is already winding up and the people’s quest for water is yet to be quenched.

From Ilorin to Offa, Share to Moro, Patigi to Edu and other local government areas of Kwara State, the thirst of water remain the greatest challenge and Kwara Must Change is propelled to demand for proper explanation on the huge financial commitment without any corresponding value.

Kwara Must Change therefore demand for proper explanation on why almost N8Billion was committed into water project within the last 16 years without any result.

Specifically, the people want to know why the 90% completed water project of late governor Lawal was not completed. We also want to know, why 16years leadership of Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatai Ahmed has not yielded any positive result in terms of provision of water. This explanation is very important because almost N8Billion belonging to the people of Kwara was expended on the imaginary water project.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change
Discus4now@gmail.com