The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, on Thursday, commissioned a rehabilitated 4,500-capacity water treatment plant in Jos South Local Government Area, northern Plateau State. The facility, which had remained abandoned for about 16 years, was revived as part of the state government’s efforts to improve water supply in the area.
During the commissioning, the governor cautioned authorities and residents on the need for proper maintenance of the plant to ensure its sustainability and continued service to the community. He also warned residents against erecting structures on water pipelines, noting that such actions could damage critical infrastructure and disrupt supply.
Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, called on water distributors to ensure the public has access to potable drinking water. The Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Bashir Lawandi Datti, reiterated the importance of water to human life, thanking Governor Mutfwang and the World Bank for partnering with the state government to make the project a success.
Stakeholders in the water resources sector disclosed that the Yelwa Water Treatment Plant had remained unused for 16 years. The facility, situated behind the Yelwa Club Dam in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area, can produce 4,500 litres of water per day. The resuscitated water plant is expected to address the acute shortage of potable water in Jos and Bukuru metropolis.
Health experts blame the increase in water-borne diseases in Plateau State on the lack of potable drinking water, with several communities in Jos facing severe hardship due to persistent water shortages.
