Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal says that about four million people in the state and nearby Kebbi State are in danger caused by an almost 90 percent shrink in the water level in Goronyo dam.
The dam serves as the primary source of water used for domestic and irrigation purposes by residents of both states in the north-western part of the country.
Speaking when he led officials on an inspection visit to the dam, Tambuwal said the depletion of the dam’s water level was alarming.
“The reservoir of Goronyo Dam was constructed to hold one billion cubic meter of water but as we’ve seen today, the water in it is just about 100 million cubic meters,” he said.
“This has resulted in an inadequate supply of water to our water board and in effect, we had to resort to rationing water to the people. Our farmers are also suffering because the output from this year’s dry season farming will invariably be affected.
“We are urging all stakeholders, especially the federal government, to take the lead in rescuing this important dam considering the number of people that rely on its water for domestic use and income purposes.”
Conducting the governor round the dam site, Buhari Bature, managing director of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, said the depletion was the worst seen in the dam in over 25 years.
He attributed the problem to shortage of rainfall in 2017, climate change and lack of desilting of the dam.
Bature said the problem has affected water supply to waterboard and irrigation farming in Sokoto and Kebbi.
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