KANO, NIGERIA — The Kano State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Manager of the Thomas Regional Water Scheme over allegations of deliberate sabotage, vandalism, and the extensive looting of public utility infrastructure. The severe disciplinary action was announced following an unscheduled on-site inspection of state facilities by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim.
Loading ...The government uncovered a deeply troubling scheme where newly completed, multi-million Naira power and water infrastructure projects—meant to permanently address the state’s lingering water scarcity crisis—were heavily stripped and looted before they could even be commissioned.
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| UTILITY CRISIS REPORT: KANO STATE |
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| Target Facility | Thomas & Ghari Regional Water Schemes |
| Primary Action | Immediate suspension of Scheme Manager |
| Discovered Crimes | Stripped wiring, looted uncommissioned plant|
| Affected Scope | Critical water supply to 3 Local Governments|
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Shocking Discoveries During Executive Facility Inspection
The administration’s investigative team visited the Thomas and Ghari Regional Water Schemes to evaluate rehabilitation efforts aimed at restoring potable water supply across Kano. However, what state officials found on the ground exposed absolute administrative failure and systemic negligence.
A critical power project at the Thomas station, completed just three months ago and awaiting official commissioning, had already been completely ransacked and stripped by looters. Furthermore, investigators discovered that almost all the heavy-duty electrical wiring had been methodically stripped from the facility’s main power generators and water pumps, completely rendering the infrastructure useless.
Security Guards Caught Farming on Water Plant Grounds
Compounding the administrative collapse, the government delegation discovered that security personnel officially hired and paid to protect the critical utility plants had completely abandoned their surveillance duties. Instead of guarding the millions of Naira worth of equipment, the security operatives were found actively utilizing the secure water plant grounds for personal farming operations.
Due to this absolute breakdown of oversight, facilities meant to provide essential water services to three major Local Government Areas have remained entirely non-functional for several years, forcing millions of local residents to depend on expensive private water vendors.
Strict Legal Penalties and Vow to End the Water Crisis
The suspension of the Scheme Manager is absolute, pending the conclusion of a full-scale forensic panel investigation. The state government declared that where criminal culpability or direct collusion is established between staff and criminal syndicates, full legal prosecution will be aggressively pursued.
The administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reiterated its absolute commitment to completely restoring Kano’s fractured urban and regional water networks. While extensive rehabilitation works continue at major hubs like Chalawa and Tamburawa, the government called upon host communities and the general public to actively protect public assets from targeted vandalism.
