Kebbi State has made it clear that it is fully prepared to implement the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Programme backed by the Federal Government and the World Bank. A joint delegation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the World Bank is currently on the ground in Kebbi, carrying out a detailed assessment of the state’s water sector. This visit is part of the critical groundwork required before the funds can be accessed and project activities can officially begin.
On Tuesday, the delegation was received in Birnin Kebbi by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, who underscored the government’s strong resolve to see the program succeed. He stated that the administration under Governor Nasir Idris is doing everything necessary to meet all outlined requirements, including making room for the necessary funds in the state budget. Tafida stressed that Kebbi expects the same level of commitment from the programme sponsors to make the collaboration a success.
The National Coordinator and Team Leader of the SURWASH Programme, Engineer Abdulhamid Adamu Gwaram, described Kebbi as one of the leading states in terms of progress on the project. He confirmed that Kebbi has successfully passed the eligibility phase and is now advancing into the second round of the process, nearing the final stage of readiness.
Gwaram highlighted that the programme is structured around a results-based financing model, where funds are only released after verified progress is made. He expressed confidence in Kebbi’s capacity to meet those expectations, citing the state’s drive, readiness, and ability to deliver on the project’s goals.
The state’s Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Bello Abdullahi Ka’oje, echoed this confidence, commending Governor Idris for his determination to improve access to clean water and sanitation through strategic partnerships with the Federal Government and international partners.
He was joined by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, as the visiting team toured various water supply facilities and other projects across the state. The joint tour aimed to provide a hands-on understanding of the existing infrastructure and the impact of past initiatives, paving the way for full-scale implementation of the SURWASH programme.
