Niger State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to resuscitate the Bosso dam to address the challenges of water scarcity in the Bosso and Maikunkele areas of the state.
This was following a motion moved by Alhaji Abubakar Gomna, member representing Bosso Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Gonna and seconded by Hon Abdulmalik Bala, member representing Katcha Constituency of the state during the plenary session on Wednesday in Minna.
Gomna had explained that the Dam was constructed for conservation, treatment and supply of drinking water and other domestic uses for residents of Bosso local government areas and its environs in the state.
“Sadly, for several years now, the Dam has been dysfunctional,” he said.
He added that the neglect of the dam had resulted in persistent water scarcity being experienced among residents of the areas.
The lawmaker noted that the dysfunctional nature of the dam, residents of Bosso and its environs resulted in buying water from water vendors/peddlers(Yan ga Ruwa) and the source of the water was unknown to people.
According to him, “water is life and if the issue of water scarcity in the area was not addressed, residents of the area were at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.”
He, however, called on the government to rehabilitate the dam and reactivate the dam treatment plant as well as upgrade pumps and essential machines that will boost the capacity of the dam to supply water.
Gomna, a former Council Chairman in the Bosso Local Government Council of the state noted that making the dam functional would provide potable drinking water for not only residents of Bosso community but up to Maikunkele community.
Contributing, member representing Lapai Constituency, Hon.Idris Vatsa moved that the motion should be referred to the House committees on water resources and urban renewal and was seconded by a member, representing Lavun Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Dabban.
The House, however, anonymously agreed that the motion be referred to appropriate committees to report back in six weeks’ time.
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