By joshua 
Kogi Water Resources Commissioner Speaks On Radio Kogi Audience Participatory Program
Assures of Government’s Readiness to Revitalize All Water Projects Across The State
… Says after due diligence, Auctioned Facilities Would be Released, Solicits Patience.
Kogi state government has solicited the support of the people towards protecting water facilities in the State.
Commissioner of Water Resources Engineer Yahaya Farouk stated this as a guest at this week’s edition of State of Kogi a radio kogi audience participatory Programme.
The Commissioner mentioned one major challenge of provision of portable drinking water to the people of kogi state as vandalization of water facility, urged the Communities to take ownership of Government facilities at their community.
This the Water Resources Commissioner, Engineer Yahaya Farouk disclosed has hindered the provision of water to houses in the State, appealed to the people of the State to guard water facilities against Vandals.
According to him, while effort is being made to revive water works across the State, measures he noted are also being made to engage hybrid security to protect water equipment.
He stated that following the prediction of flood in the State, necessary mechanism has been put in place to protect facilities against activities of vandals.
The Commissioner commended the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for demonstrating the political will in ensuring that the people of the state get clean water.
Engineer Farouk said his Ministry was partnering with that of Environment and Ecological Management towards curtailing open defecation and outbreak of disease.
On the Auction of some facilities at Dekina Water Works, the Commissioner praised the community for managing and protecting the facility over the years.
He explained that though the facility has been auctioned, he is carrying out due diligence towards ensuring that the right process was carried out in the sale, assured that when the process leading to the sale is confirmed, an approval will be given for evacuation.
” The auction was done in December before the present administration. To this end we have to ascertain the process leading to the sale before we can inform the Governor to authorize the evacuation of the facility. This is to ensure due diligence, protect the auctioneer and safe guard lives and properties”.
He said the process is to safe guard the auctioneer and enable a peaceful evacuation, urged for patience from the auctioneer.
The Commissioner said his visit to water facilities across the State was to ascertain the State of all the facilities, get a first hand assessment of what is on the ground to enable Government carry out their revitalization.
Engr. Farouk appealed to the people to be patient with the State Government assuring that work is in advance stage at the old Lokoja water works, while an audit has been carried out on the Greater Lokoja water works to restore and expand the reticulation structure to serve other parts of the State.
He mentioned that after the 2012 flood, with the 2022 flood being the worst experienced by the State, affected the water facilities greatly, leading to colossal damage that has grounded the facility.
The Commissioner assured that the water sector is a thematic area of the present administration, assured that the pains affecting the people would by the end of the turnaround be solved permanently.