Kano State Tackles 300M-litre Daily Water Deficit As Demand Outpaces Plants in Nigeria

Kano State Government says it is implementing measures to address a daily water supply deficit of more than 300 million litres as demand in Greater Kano continues to exceed the capacity of existing water treatment plants. The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Hashim, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Kano, the state capital. Hashim said the government had commenced the rehabilitation and upgrade of major water facilities to restore their operational capacity and improve water supply across the metropolis.

He said Greater Kano, covering areas within a 50-kilometre radius, requires about 750 million litres of water daily, based on surveys conducted between 2022 and 2023. According to him, the three major water treatment plants serving the affected areas of Challawa, Tamburawa and Watari have a combined production capacity of 445 million litres daily when operating at full capacity. "Challawa Water Treatment Plant has the capacity to produce 220 million litres daily, Hashim said." He added that the Tamburawa plant can produce 150 million litres daily, while the Watari plant has a capacity of 75 million litres daily. The commissioner noted that the ongoing rehabilitation aims to bring these plants to full operational status, which would help close the gap between current supply and demand.

He also mentioned that the government is exploring additional sources, including groundwater development and the expansion of distribution networks, to further reduce the deficit. Hashim assured residents that the measures would lead to a significant improvement in water availability in the coming months, as the state prioritises this critical sector.