AFD Commits US$75M to Kano City Urban Water Project

The on-going Kano City Urban Water Project has received a funding commitment of US$75 million from the French Development Agency (AFD).

This according to a statement by the French Embassy in Nigeria, is to support the state improve Water Production, Distribution and Revenue Generation within Greater Kano.

According to the statement, In the presence of the New Managing Director of the Kano State Water Board, Engr. Garba Ahmed Bichi and the Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Nigeria, Mr Xavier Muron, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Emmanuelle Blatmann visited some key infrastructures of the AFD-supported Urban Water project in Kano.

The statement read that the on-going Kano City Urban Water project being implemented by the Kano State Water Board (KnSWB) received a funding commitment of 75 million USD from AFD to support the State improve Water Production, Distribution and Revenue Generation within Greater Kano.

The statement listed the project development objectives to include: Improve access and quality of water service in KnSWB’s areas of operations; Improve the financial viability of KnSWB
3 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 river Challawa and the nearby Challawa 2nd & 3rd Water Treatment Plants.

It said “with its 63,500 planned connexions, this project will provide access to potable water to 1.5 million inhabitants in Kano, including women & children. The project will also expand the distribution network by 27,000 metric 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” the French Ambassador was quoted to have said at the site visit in Challawa.

On his part, the Managing Director of the KnSWB, commended the ongoing partnership between AFD and KnSWB, he explained that the technical and financial support provided by France to KnSWB through the AFD will enable the institution to improve services and quality of the water supply in the city of Kano as well as sustain the financial viability of KnSWB.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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