WaterAid earmarks N52m for water project in Kirfi LGA

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), WaterAid Nigeria in partnership with Bauchi State Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) has earmarked for spending, about N52 miilion on water supply to 15 communities in Kirfi LGA of Bauchi State. The Organization’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Mr Tanko Reubeno announced this during the commencement of drilling work at Kafin-Turaki village of Dewu ward in Kirfi LGA. He said the projects which would be cited in Kafin-Iya and Dewu districts would comprise construction of five solar powered water supply schemes, five hand pump boreholes and rehabilitation of five other projects that would be converted to solar schemes. “Under the first phase, WaterAid with the support of RUWASA, will construct hand pump fitted boreholes at Kafin-Turaki, Gula, Wuro-Dishi, Wuro-Male and Gadagassol, while some of the existing dysfunctional boreholes will also be converted to Solar schemes for sustainability and ease of maintenance “, Mr Reubeno added. WaterAid WASH Specialist explained further the rationale behind the adoption of Solar schemes saying, “unlike in the past when such water supply projects often experienced breakdown due to lack of diesel, petrol or gas, the Solar scheme will help to eliminate all forms hiccups as Kirfi LGA is fully blessed with solar energy “. Mr Tanko Reubeno disclosed that two health facilities would also benefit from the WaterAid project in view of the importance of water to maternal and Child Health care adding that, “the benefitting villages are the most disadvantaged communities in the entire Kirfi LGA “. Earlier, the Managing director of Transtechnic, the company executing the project, Alhaji Abdulrazak Salau said the boreholes would be fitted with Afri-development hand Pumps because “the product has long life span and can ensure sustainability “. Alhaji Abdulrazak promised that his company would complete the projects in less than two months as three days have been fixed for drilling in each of the benefitting communities. By Samuel Luka