Gombe Government to Adjust Water Tariffs Amid Huge Losses

The Gombe State Government has announced plans to revise its water tariffs after spending over N9 billion on water production and distribution since 2019, while generating only N146 million in revenue during the same period.

This was revealed by the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mohammed Fawu, during a media briefing following the 49th State Executive Council meeting in Gombe.

According to Fawu, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has set up a committee led by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau to evaluate the current water supply framework. The committee is tasked with assessing water production, distribution, and billing systems, including a review of the existing tariff structure, which has remained unchanged for over 15 years.

Despite significant investments aimed at improving water access across the state, many households and consumers reportedly fail to pay their water bills, placing a financial strain on government resources.

“Since 2019, the state has invested over N9 billion in providing potable water to residents. However, returns have been disproportionately low, with only N146 million recovered so far,” Fawu stated.

He added that the current rates are outdated and unsustainable, and that the proposed review would align pricing with the actual cost of production to ensure long-term viability and improved service delivery.