MINNA: The Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation, (NSWSC) have ascribed the challenge of water shortage in the state to the non-payment of charges by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state.
The Agency’s General Manager, Finance and Supply, Mustafa Mohammed Lemu, made this known when he appeared before the Niger State House of Assembly Committee on Audited Accounts.
Lemu said that the inability of the MDAs to offset their dues which have accumulated to about N1.4 billion was stalling smooth operations of the agency.
He said that such challenges are making it difficult for the board to provide residents of the state with a constant supply of water.
“If they decide to pay, I don’t think we will be having the problems we are having now.
“Even with the procurement of these chemicals last month, the state government had to intervene by giving us N100 million to procure chemicals and that is why you are seeing water now in the state capital”, Lemu said.
He further said that the state government had to intervene in financing its operations, as the agency was greatly challenged by a low generation of revenue.
“Though the government has promised the corporation financial support that would enable us to have a constant water supply for at least three months, our major problem is revenue drive which is too poor, especially in this rainy season when the customers have an alternative source of water supply,” he added.