Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu, has commissioned a 5 million litres per day water supply scheme at the Samaru main campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
This was revealed at the weekend in a statement signed by the ministry`s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Kenechukwu Offie.
Relatively, this commissioning and handing over ceremony came three weeks after the commissioning of a similar project executed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Patigi town, Kwara State.
The statement read: “In continuation with its commitment and determination to commission all completed projects, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has again completed and commissioned another Water Supply Scheme.
“The rehabilitated and expanded Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria over 5 million litres per day water supply scheme which has been completed, commissioned and handed over to the authorities of the university for provision of portable water to the residents of the university and its environs.”
Adamu stated that the project was executed in two phases. The first phase was awarded to Messrs Cartlark Nigeria Ltd. in February 2006, with about 70 per cent completion in 2017.
The minister added that in order to achieve maximum value, the ministry awarded phase II of the project to Messrs Bran & Luebbee Water Engineers Nig. Ltd in March 2020 with a completion period of 24 months.
He affirmed that the phase II had been satisfactorily executed and marked the completion of the entire project stressing that the elements of works that had been executed and fully completed under the project included the provision of transmission mains of various sizes of HDP pipes over 2.2km, installation of 4 N0s. 45KW KSB Pumps at the old and new Raw Water Intake; installation of 2 N0s. 55KW KSB and 1 N0. 75KW KSB Pumps at the new booster station; installation of a 100 KVA generating set at the new booster station; installation of 3 N0s. 75 KW KSB pumps (two working and one standby) at the treatment plant; installation of 2 N0s. 95 cubic meter/h with multistage vertical pumps at dangote hostel; installation of 1N0. 45 watt solar hybrid inverter at Dangote Hostel; installation of 96N0s. 400 Watt each Solar Module at Dangote Hostel; provision of 3N0s. new Rapid Sand Gravity Filters at the water works.
Others are; construction of 1000,000 litres Surface Steel Tank at Dangote Hostel; construction of 500,000 litres overhead Steel Tank on 12m high stanchion at Dangote Hostel; construction of 400,000 litres overhead steel tank on 9m high stanchion at Savanna Flat; construction of 800,000 litres Surface Steel Tank at Savanna Flat; Drilling of 3 Nos. Boreholes at Kongo Campus; Construction of 20,000 litres Overhead Steel Tank at Kongo on 12m high stanchion at Kongo Campus; construction of 85,000 litres Surface Steel Tank at Kongo Campus; Provision of 2 Nos. 450 KW Grundfos Pump (as spares); and perimeter fencing of the scheme.
According to the minister, the project which was designed to serve over 200,000 residents of Samaru and Kongo Campuses and environs was executed with a total cost of N996, 673, 985.56 with a breakdown of phase 1( N498, 584, 385.86) & phase II ( N498,089, 599.70).
He added that the quality of the treated water from the scheme has been subjected to laboratory testing and found to be acceptable and within national and international standards for drinking water.
He noted that “to ensure proper management and maintenance of the water scheme, and as part of his contractual obligations, we have ensured that the contractor worked in synergy with the ABU Works Department. He urged that the university provide the needed enabling environment that would ensure that the Works Department performed their duties as required and efficiently in the operation and maintenance of the facility for sustainability.
The vice chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Kabiru Bala, thanked the Federal Government and the minister for rehabilitating and expanding the university’s water supply scheme, which, according to him, will go a long way towards solving the water supply issues.
However, the highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of the tape by the minister signalling the commissioning of the project and signing of the project’s necessary documents as well as the handing over of the keys to the management of the University by the Director, Water Supply of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Danjuma Madaki.