Kano Govt Suspends Water Scheme Manager Over Alleged Sabotage, Looting

The Kano State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Manager of the Thomas Regional Water Scheme over alleged sabotage of efforts to address persistent water scarcity in the state.

The suspension was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim.

“The suspension is pending investigation into alleged sabotage and vandalism of facilities put in place by the government to end the lingering crisis of water scarcity in the state,” the statement read.

Muhammad-Hashim said the decision followed a series of inspections and interventions aimed at rehabilitating water facilities across the state.

“After a series of project inspections and interventions aimed at rehabilitating all waterworks in Kano State to address water scarcity, we discovered that a project completed about three months ago, which is yet to be commissioned, had already been looted,” he said.

“Today, I visited the Thomas and Ghari Regional Water Schemes, and what I found was deeply troubling.

“Facilities meant to serve three local government areas have remained non-functional for several years. We found almost all electrical wiring stripped from generators and pumps.

“A power project completed just three months ago in Thomas, which is yet to be commissioned, had already been looted.

“Furthermore, security personnel hired to protect the plant were found farming on its grounds,” he said.

The commissioner added that the scheme manager had been suspended pending investigation, warning that legal action would follow if culpability is established.

“I have ordered the immediate suspension of the scheme’s manager pending an investigation. Where criminal culpability is established, we will pursue full legal action,” he said.

Muhammad-Hashim also reaffirmed Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s commitment to restoring water infrastructure across the state.

“Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf is fully committed to restoring Kano’s water infrastructure. We are currently rehabilitating Chalawa and Tamburawa, and we will ensure that all regional water schemes are fully revitalised,” he said.

He urged residents to take responsibility for protecting public infrastructure.

“These public assets belong to all of us, and we all must protect them,” the commissioner said.