The ongoing Kano City Urban Water Project has received a funding commitment of US$75 million from the French Development Agency (AFD).
A statement by the French Embassy in Nigeria, said this is to support the state improve water production, distribution, and revenue generation within Greater Kano.
The new Managing Director, Kano State Water Board, Garba Bichi, and the Country Director, AFD in Nigeria, Xavier Muron, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Emmanuelle Blatmann, visited some key infrastructure of the AFD-supported urban water project in Kano.
The statement said the ongoing Kano City Urban Water project being implemented by the Kano State Water Board (KnSWB) received a funding commitment of $75 million from AFD.
The project development objectives include “improve access and quality of water service in KnSWB’s areas of operations; improve the financial viability of KnSWB and enhance the governance framework of the water sector in the state.”
The French Ambassador, while in Kano, visited the location of the proposed new intake station located on the Challawa River and the nearby Challawa second and third water treatment plants.
Blatmann said: “With its 63,500 planned connections, this project will provide access to potable water to 1.5 million inhabitants in Kano, including women and children. The project will also expand the distribution network by 27,000 metrics to bring water to new areas of Kano Municipal, Fagge, Nassarawa, Gwale and Dala local governments.
“This support from the French Development Agency, AFD, will greatly contribute to the betterment of the living conditions of the inhabitants of Kano city through the improvement of the drinking water service.”
On his part, Bichi commended the ongoing partnership between AFD and the board.
He explained that the technical and financial support provided by France to KnSWB through the AFD will enable the Board to improve services and quality of the water supply in the city of Kano as well as sustain the financial viability of KnSWB.
This support from the French Development Agency will greatly contribute to the betterment of the living conditions of the inhabitants of Kano city through the improvement of the drinking water service.
