Governor Usman Ododo has approved funds for the rehabilitation of old Lokoja water works, which have been submerged since the 2022 flood disaster.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Yahaya  Farouk, said this during an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

Farouk explained that the plant is intended to supply water to some areas of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, pending the completion of repairs at the Greater Lokoja Water Works, which was damaged by floods in 2012.

According to the commissioner, the state government is taking pragmatic steps to replace equipment submerged at the Greater Lokoja Water Works, though this will take at least 12 months to complete.

He emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing the water scarcity, appealing to residents for patience, while assuring them that efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

“Before Friday, contractors will resume work for the rehabilitation of old Lokoja water works. It has been approved and cashed back by the Governor of Kogi State. Within the shortest possible time, water supply will return to Lokoja metropolis,” he stated.

Farouk debunked reports making the rounds that the reservoir for old Lokoja water works has been sold out.

According to him, “This is not true and should be disregarded by the general public. This is the handwork of mischief makers who keep spreading fake news just to discredit the government efforts at restoring water to Lokoja metropolis”.

The Commissioner seized the opportunity to intimate journalists about the arrest of some suspects who vandalised armoured cables for greater Lokoja Waterworks in Ganaja Village.

His words, “I am convinced that it was an internal problem. We wrote to the State Police Command, and arrests were made concerning some suspects who went to vandalise armoured cables meant for greater Lokoja water works.  The private security agencies were engaged and later sent a report that some people had owned up that the armoured cables were sold to someone in Ganaja.

“We have tank A, which is supposed to serve supply to tank B have also been vandalised. We will arrest all of them no matter their hiding place. Any person who vandalises public infrastructure that is expected to serve the people will not go unpunished.

“I want to use this opportunity to emphasise community ownership of our installation across the State.  I must commend Ayegunle Gbede a community in Kogi East that has been protecting our infrastructure in their locality. There were parts of our water equipment that were auctioned about five years ago.

“The auctioneers could not come close because the community stood their ground, insisting that they must see the Ministry of Water Resources before anything could be done. This is what we want and should be replicated across the board. We must stand our ground to stop the vandalisation of our critical infrastructure in Kogi State.”

He maintained that the procurement process of greater Lokoja water works is about 80 per cent, stressing that the government has almost concluded plans with the contractors to bring the plant back to shape.

He commended the robust relationship between the government and working journalists in the State, adding that this has brought about rapid development and good governance for the people of Kogi State.