Gombe Govt Rejects N133bn-N138bn Water Spending Claim

Gombe State Government officials have strongly refuted claims that the administration spent between N133 billion and N138 billion on water supply projects, labeling the figures as misleading and inaccurate. The government clarified that the circulated numbers improperly aggregate diverse financial elements, such as recurrent expenses, capital allocations, inherited contractual obligations, and development partner interventions. Crucially, these figures fail to distinguish between appropriated funds and actual expenditures, presenting a distorted picture of the state's investment in its water sector.

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The figures in circulation appeared to lump together recurrent expenditure, capital allocations, inherited contractual obligations, development-partner interventions and budgetary provisions without distinguishing between funds appropriated and actual expenditure.

In a statement released Friday night, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at Government House, Gombe, emphasized the need for public clarity regarding the state's investments. He explained that water supply has long been a significant challenge in Gombe, exacerbated by population growth, urban expansion, aging infrastructure, insufficient storage capacity, rising energy costs, and a distribution network designed for a much smaller populace. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya's administration, since taking office in 2019, has implemented a comprehensive, phased strategy targeting water production, treatment, storage, transmission, distribution, energy supply, metering, maintenance, and institutional capacity building.

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water supply has remained a longstanding challenge in the state due to population growth, urban expansion, ageing infrastructure, inadequate storage capacity, rising energy costs and a distribution network originally designed for a much smaller population.

Upon assuming office, Governor Yahaya prioritized inspecting key water facilities, including the Gombe State Water Board and the Dadin Kowa Water Treatment Plant, due to persistent concerns over their underperformance. An assessment revealed critical issues such as inadequate production and storage capacity, aging infrastructure, unreliable electricity, and limitations in the transmission and distribution networks. In response, the administration established a Water Supply Task Force, led by Engineer Abubakar Bappa, to conduct a thorough evaluation and propose sustainable solutions.

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The administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, since assuming office in 2019, had adopted a phased approach covering water production, treatment, storage, transmission, distribution, energy supply, metering, maintenance and institutional capacity.

The government specifically addressed the disputed N133 billion to N138 billion figure, asserting it does not reflect actual spending on a single water program. They noted that the administration inherited approximately N5 billion in outstanding obligations to CGC, the operator of the Dadin Kowa facility. Furthermore, recurrent and subvention costs between 2019 and 2025 to maintain existing water infrastructure have exceeded N9.5 billion. The government argues that these operational costs should not be conflated with capital investments in new infrastructure. Significant capital investments have been allocated between 2020 and 2025 for projects like piped-water expansion and borehole development, with additional support from development partners and agencies like RUWASSA.

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The government said the N133 billion to N138 billion figure being cited did not represent actual expenditure on a single water programme.