Urge participants to take ownership of the Facilities.
The kogi state Commissioner for Water Resources Abdulmumuni Danga has commended president Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of boreholes to some Communities across the state through the National Wash Response to Covid 19 Projects.
The commissioner gave the commendation at the Training workshop for Community Volunteers on Operations and maintenance of solar powered boreholes built through National Wash Response Covid 19 Projects held in Lokoja on Saturday.
The commissioner who was also greatful to governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment and passion for issues that concern the people of the state stressing that his prompt approval has been the tonic that delivered the project to the state.
According to him, at the peak of the Covid 19 outbreak , there was series of meetings between the 36 states commissioners for water resources in which every one was given latitude to express his proposals to ameliorate the suffering of his people.
He added that it was the free flow of expression granted them by the minister of Water Resources Engineer Suleiman Adamu that it was agreed that solar powered boreholes be sunk in some communities across the federation.
He admitted that the facilities which are meant to prevent the spread of Covid 19 through regular washing of hands cannot be achieved without regular water supply, adding that the projects were product of hard work , diligence and commitment to ameliorate the hardships faced by the people.
According to him” Whenever you find yourself in a position of authority, have the heart of your people in your heart. Governor Bello will never joke with issues that affect the people. At the start of this programme, anytime,I present a memo for this water intervention, he will call me, commissioner , if it is for the interest of the people,just press hard to its fruition.
“I give this day to his unwavering support for the people. He has made today a reality. Without his support this project wouldnt have seen the light of the day. Whenever I sit with him over this intervention programme, he will advise me to move on. His commitment to any of my proposal is wonderful and rewarding.” He stated.
While lauding the governor and ministry of water resources for their meticulous contributions to reduce the suffering of the people with the projects said he has set up committee that will liaise with the various benefiting communities on best ways to maintain and preserve the facilities
He assured that the training would have equipped the communities volunteer managers on modalities to be adopted to keep the project afloat without depending on government for the day to day running of the project, stressing that the government will constantly monitor their activities to prevent vandalism and abuse.
In his remark before the commencement of the training, the Minister of Water Resources Engineer Suleiman Adamu represented by the Zonal coordinator on National Wash Response to Covid 19 Projects, Shetima Adams noted that the essence of the projects is to reduce the spread of Covid 19 pandemic in the country through increased access to water , sanitation and hygiene services.
He emphasised that the Federal Government has successfully constructed/ rehabilitated various water supply facilities in kogi state in accordance with Covid 19 response plan.
He charged the people to realise that the facilities will be totally own , operated , managed and maintained by the benefiting communities, saying that the government has finally handed over the projects to the representives of the communities.
He urged the participants who are the representives of their communities to be committed through sustainable mechanism for fund raising for the operation and maintenance of the facilities.
He however charged the trainees to take the training seriously as it is aimed at equipping them with basic knowledge that would assist in addressing some of the challenges likely to erupt in the course of discharging the duties as caretakers of the facilities in their Communities.
He called on the people to join hands with government to observe Covid 19 protocols of washing their hands with soap and clean running water for which purpose these solar powered boreholes were provided.
In his words” We are ever ready to intervene in order to prevent the spread of Covid 19 pandemic. A part from this intervention projects, the ministry has a committed yearly programmes that will touch the lives of our people.” He informed.
Meanwhile, some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent expressed gratitude to president Muhammadu Buhari and governor Yahaya Bello for making the projects a reality, assuring that they will ensure that the facilities are protected and maintained.