Nasarawa Govt. sinks 200 boreholes, rehabilitates 300 in 2 yrs- Commissioner

Mohammed Muluku, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, says that the Abdullahi Sule-led administration has sunk 200 boreholes in different communities across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state in the last two years.

Muluku announced this on Tuesday in Lafia during a ministerial briefing organised by Dr Ibrahim Tanko, Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, to enable government officials to showcase their achievements.

The Commissioner stated that the effort was part of the governor's commitment to enhancing access to clean water and promoting rural development in the state.

He explained that the government had also rehabilitated 300 boreholes in both rural and urban centres to reduce water scarcity and improve access to clean drinking water.

He noted that the state has over nine waterworks in Awe, Obi, Keana, Lafia, Nassarawa-Egggon, Akwanga, Wamba, Nasarawa and Toto LGAs and is maintaining all at the moment.

Muluku said that the government had given contracts for the dredging of the waterworks and plans were concluded to build new ones to cater for new settlements.

The commissioner, however, lamented that some of the factors mitigating against the provision of clean water include sabotage and the activities of vandals who go about destroying armour cables, water pumps and other water installations.

He also advised those in the habit of using chemicals in water bodies for fishing to desist or face the wrath of the law if caught. 

He explained that the government had already entered into partnership with the World Bank, African Development Bank, Bank of Arap for Development in African Countries, among others, to improve access to clean and safe water.

"Because of our partnership with the Bank of Arap for Development in African Countries, they have agreed to support the state with over N4.4 billion to improve the provision of clean water.

"The fund will be used to address the challenges of the waterworks in Obi, Nassarawa-Egggon and Akwanga to turnaround the facilities for optimal performance," Muluku added.

He explained that the governor has recently approved N1.5 billion to boost water supply in Keffi LGA and its environs.

On his part, Tanko, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said that his ministry had created a lot of avenues, including the ministerial briefing, to enlighten, educate and inform the public about the policies, programmes and projects embarked on by the present administration in the state.

He used the medium to appeal to the public, especially those from communities where waterworks and other facilities are provided, to take ownership and ensure its protection against criminals, vandals and saboteurs.

He therefore assured the public that the Gov. Sule-led administration was determined to ensure that the people drink and use clean and safe water to guard against diseases. (NAN).