From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Residents of Abuja City Centre and surrounding satellite towns are currently experiencing partial disruption in their water supply due to major rehabilitation works on two of the four water treatment plants operated by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, water supply will be rationed for two weeks as only two plants remain operational while the other two undergo extensive repairs.
The disruption began on Friday, May 30, and is expected to last until Friday, June 13, 2025.
The statement appealed to residents to bear with the FCTA, assuring that the rehabilitation, aimed at improving water production and service delivery, will be completed within the two-week timeframe.
He said: “Residents are therefore urged to store enough water to cater for their needs during this period as supply will be rationed.”
Wike further explained that to mitigate the impact during the upcoming Sallah celebrations, the two plants currently under rehabilitation will be temporarily brought online to supply water during the festive period.
The Minister provided detailed insight into the situation: “The FCT Water Board operates four water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per hour, divided into Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4.
“Due to inefficiencies causing the plants to produce below their installed capacity, a contract was awarded to Messrs SCC Nigeria Limited for rehabilitation. The work has reached an advanced stage on Phases 1 and 2, where the electro-mechanical equipment — the prime mover of the treatment plants — is being replaced and reinstalled.
“This has necessitated a total shutdown of these two interconnected plants.
However, Phases 3 and 4 plants remain operational but cannot meet the full demand of the populace.
“Therefore, what residents are experiencing is a partial shutdown, not a total stoppage of potable water supply. SCC is working 24/7 to complete the works ahead of schedule.”
To reduce the hardship caused by the partial shutdown, the Water Board has implemented a rationing timetable that alternates supply between two distribution lines, Lines 1 and 2.
The FCT Water Board had earlier announced the disruption as necessary to facilitate the connection of electro-mechanical equipment, a major component of the rehabilitation project at the Lower Usuma Dam water treatment plants, a key water source for Abuja.
The Board acknowledged the inconvenience the disruption might cause and urged residents to prepare accordingly, stating: “We appeal to residents to kindly store water that may last them for this period, including an alternative supply to augment their needs. Any inconvenience that might be experienced by our customers is highly regretted.”