Kaduna removes subsidy on water rates

Written by Ismail Mudashir, Kaduna Thursday, 05 January 2012 05:00
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Kaduna State government has jerked up water rate by over 100 percent, the state government announced through its water board.
Daily Trust gathered that the increment was as a result of removal of financial support otherwise known as subsidy by the state government.
In a leaflet by the state water board distributed to customers, occupants of 3 bedroom flats in Government Reserves Areas (GRA) will henceforth pay N5,775 as against the former N2,310; occupants of a 3-bedroom flat on the outskirts of the state will now pay N1,428 against the former rate of N714. Residents occupying one or two bedroom apartments will now pay N914 monthly against the old N609.
A cross section of residents attributed the increase to the removal of fuel subsidy. However, when contacted the Public Relations Manager of the Kaduna State Water Board, Alhaji Dalhatu Zubairu said the state government has not removed its financial support on provision of water to the people of the state.
According to him, the state government only reviewed the tariff upward to meet the present realities. He said the rate was last reviewed in 2001 but that the costs of energy, personnel, water treatment and chemicals keeps rising.