💧 Gombe State Government Spends ₦9 Billion on Water Supply Over Six Years Amid Ongoing Scarcity

Gombe State has reportedly invested at least ₦9 billion over the last six years to improve water supply infrastructure. Despite this considerable expenditure, residents continue to grapple with persistent shortages—raising concerns about the impact and execution of such projects.

📉 Investment Under Review vs Reality on the Ground

1. Officials confirm the state allocated roughly ₦9 billion towards efforts to expand and maintain clean water access, including upgrades to the regional supply system funded through federal collaboration and the rehabilitation of boreholes across eleven local government areas.  
2. In 2022 and 2023 alone, water-related spending totaled over ₦13 billion, with major budget lines covering the Pindiga augmentation project and maintenance of the regional water scheme.  
3. The ambitious expansion project—with an initial contract value of ₦11.49 billion awarded in 2022—aimed to lay 160 km of new pipelines, construct booster stations, upgrade treatment plants, and install solar-powered pumps, among other improvements.  

🚰 But Water Shortages Persist

Despite the investment, access to potable water remains limited in much of Gombe State:

1. Only a fraction of communities—especially those served by the Dadin Kowa treatment plant—receive reliable supply.
2. Many households turn to expensive private boreholes or travel long distances to fetch water.  
3. Some major projects, like the Dukku regional scheme, allegedly stalled despite multi-million-naira payouts, deepening public frustration.  

🌍 Growth, Demand, and Aging Infrastructure

1. The Dadin Kowa treatment plant was originally designed to serve 300,000 residents but now supports over 800,000, including internally displaced populations—exerting immense pressure on aging infrastructure. Capacity constraints and illegal hookups have reportedly reduced available supply by more than 70%.  

🛠️ What’s Being Done: Rehabilitation & Reform

1. Since 2019, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has overseen the drilling and rehabilitation of over 600 boreholes, in addition to launching a multi-billion-naira regional water expansion project in partnership with federal and international agencies like SURWASH and PEWASH.  
2. The project includes crucial infrastructure upgrades—booster stations, solar pumps, digital meters, and a distribution network spanning over 160 km—designed to improve supply resilience and equity.  

🧭 Key Implications & What’s Next

Focus Area	Status ⏳
Infrastructure investment	₦9B+ in six years but delivery gaps
Community-level access	Uneven distribution, dependence on costly boreholes
Demand vs capacity	Supply lagging in face of rising population
Accountability	Calls for greater transparency in billing and project delivery
Strategic planning	Ongoing efforts via GB-Met program and partnerships

Despite spending in the billions, access to clean water remains insufficient for many Gombe residents. While ambitious projects are underway, the gap between pledged funding and tangible outcome demands greater oversight and sustained execution.