By Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi
BIRNIN KEBBI, NIGERIA – The Kebbi State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, a Federal Government–World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving water infrastructure, public health, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
A high-level delegation comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the World Bank arrived in Kebbi for an in-depth sectoral assessment, a key milestone in the rollout of the performance-based development programme.
Welcoming the team on Tuesday, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, declared the administration of Governor Nasir Idris fully aligned with the programme’s objectives.
“The administration is committed to fulfilling every requirement for the success of SURWASH, including strategic budgetary allocations. We also expect our development partners to uphold their end of the commitment,” Tafida said.
The SURWASH Programme, which operates on a results-based financing model, only disburses funds upon verification of implementation impact and measurable outcomes.
Engr. Abdulhamid Adamu Gwaram, Team Leader and National Coordinator of the SURWASH Programme, praised Kebbi State for emerging as a leading state in the national framework.
“Kebbi has successfully moved past the eligibility phase and entered the advanced stage of the readiness assessment. We have no doubt about the state’s capacity to implement and deliver high-impact water, sanitation, and hygiene services,” Gwaram stated.
According to Gwaram, the project is structured to enhance institutional capacity, promote community-driven development, and ensure the sustainable delivery of WASH services in both urban and rural communities.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Bello Abdullahi Ka’oje, commended Governor Nasir Idris for fostering effective collaboration with international and federal partners.
“This government is passionate about delivering modern water infrastructure that meets international standards and improves the quality of life for our people,” Ka’oje noted.
The strategic meeting, held at the SSG’s office, was also attended by Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, alongside other senior government officials and stakeholders.
With this declaration of intent, Kebbi State positions itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s water sector reform, leveraging international development funds to bridge the clean water and sanitation gap, reduce disease prevalence, and drive socioeconomic transformation through sustainable infrastructure investment.
