Osibanjo, Namadi Sambo disagree at Zaria water commissioning

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and his predecessor, Namadi Sambo, on Saturday disagreed over the role played by present and past Kaduna governors in a water project in Zaria, commissioned by Mr. Osinbajo.
Represented at the event by the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, the acting president had claimed the project had lingered for 16 years but was speedily completed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai in two years.
But the News Agency of Nigeria reported that the 150 million liters per day multi-billion water project was initiated by Mr. Sambo in 2008 when he was governor of the north western state.
“I am glad on behalf of the party, it took an APC governor just two years to complete a project that has been in slumber for over 16 solid years,” he was quoted by NAN as saying.
But Mr. Sambo struck back in his speech, telling the audience that while Mr. E-Rufai’s effort was commendable, the project had not gone beyond where he left it seven years ago.
He urged the benefiting communities to make judicious use of the project and to protect it against vandalism.
The first part of the project inaugurated by Mr. Osinbajo would supply water to Zaria and Sabongari Local Government Areas.
NAN reports that, when fully completed, the Zaria water supply project would also be extended to Giwa, Kudan, Makarfi, Soba and Kubau local government areas.
“This water treatment plant is an important component of the Zaria water supply expansion project that Kaduna State Government is executing with the support of Federal Government, AFDB, IDB,” he said.
The governor explained that the state government funded the construction of the new water plant, transmission mains and service reservoirs, and also rehabilitated and extended the distribution network.

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