Jos: The Plateau Government has awarded a N13.5 billion contract to the China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) to rehabilitate the Laminga and Yakubu Gowon water treatment plants in the state.
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang signed the contract on behalf of the state government on Friday in Jos.
Mutfwang, represented by Mr Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), stated that the move signifies the government’s effort to provide potable water to residents of the greater Jos Master Plan.
Mutfwang explained that the bidding process for the contract, which was conducted through a due and diligent procedure, was later awarded to CGC.
The governor, who explained that the rehabilitation of the treatment plants was time-bound, said that the projects would be completed in December 2026.
He called on the contractor to execute the projects in accordance with the stipulated guidelines, quality standards, and specifications.
Mutfwang assured the contractor of the availability of funds to complete the projects within the specified timeframe.
Earlier, Mr Apollos Samchi, the Managing Director of the Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC), commended the governor for paying the counterpart fund to the French Development Agency (AFD) for the execution of the projects.
Samchi said that the projects, inherited from the previous administration, were stalled due to a lack of counterpart funding.
“The Yakubu Gowon water treatment plant, which provides 80 per cent of the water within Jos and environs, has not been rehabilitated in the last 50 years.
“So, we commend our governor for releasing the counterpart funds for these critical projects.
“By the time these treatment plants are rehabilitated, it will boost our capacity to ensure effective water circulation within Jos and environs,” he said.
The managing director further commended the governor for providing three water tankers to the corporation and for rehabilitating 60 motorised boreholes and 300 wells in areas yet to be reticulated.
Responding, Mr Ke You Cheng, the Team Lead of CGC, promised to deliver the projects within the specified time and to the record.
