The Federal Government has officially kicked off the ₦18.9 billion rehabilitation and upgrade of the Buruku/Gboko water supply project in Benue State, reinforcing its commitment to providing clean and safe drinking water across Nigeria.
At the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Gboko Water Treatment Plant in Ameladu on Thursday, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, described the initiative as a strategic investment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This project is a demonstration of the government’s dedication to improving the lives of its citizens by providing essential amenities,” Utsev stated. He emphasized that the project will serve the communities of Buruku, Gboko, and surrounding areas, ensuring long-term access to potable water and improved public health outcomes.
The project is part of the government’s broader infrastructure and sanitation reform drive, aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation for all.
He explained that originally conceived as the Gboko-Yandev Water Supply System, the project now renamed the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project, will restore and expand existing water infrastructure.
The minister noted that the initiative aimed to benefit approximately 506,000 residents by reducing waterborne diseases and ensuring reliable water access, pointing out that the water will be sourced from the Katsina Ala River and transported over 17 kilometres for purification before distribution to Gboko, Mkar, and neighbouring communities.