Plateau Government Signs ₦13.5bn Deal with Chinese Firm to Rehabilitate Jos Water Plants

The Plateau State Government has signed a ₦13.5 billion contract with the China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) for the rehabilitation of the Laminga and Yakubu Gowon water treatment plants in the state.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang signed the agreement on behalf of the state government on Friday in Jos. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Samuel Jatau, the governor said the project demonstrates his administration’s commitment to providing residents with uninterrupted access to clean and safe water under the Greater Jos Master Plan.

Mutfwang noted that the contract was awarded after a transparent and diligent bidding process, adding that the rehabilitation is scheduled for completion by December 2026. He charged the contractor to adhere strictly to project specifications, quality standards, and timelines, assuring that funds had been secured to ensure timely delivery.

The Managing Director of the Jos Water Services Corporation, Mr. Apollos Samchi, commended Governor Mutfwang for fulfilling the state’s counterpart funding obligation to the French Development Agency (AFD), which enabled the long-delayed project to take off.

He explained that the Yakubu Gowon water treatment plant, which supplies about 80 percent of water to Jos and its environs, had not been rehabilitated in over five decades. “Once the two plants are fully rehabilitated, water supply across Jos and surrounding communities will significantly improve,” Samchi said.

He further praised the governor for supporting the water sector through the provision of three water tankers, rehabilitation of 60 motorised boreholes, and 300 wells in areas not yet connected to the main network.

The Team Lead of CGC, Mr. Ke You Cheng, assured the state government of the company’s readiness to deliver high-quality work and complete the project within the agreed timeframe.