By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency with the support of the state government and donor agencies has embarked on new measures to provide 1.5 million people with adequate portable water this year.
The General Manager of the Agency Engr. Garba Babaji Magaji who said that the figure represent about 40% of the state population, expressed dismay that such percentage of people have no access to safe drinking water.
Magaji during an interview with newsmen in his office commended Governor Mohammad Abubakar for his effort on the provision of safe water and effective hygiene and sanitation through timely release of counterpart fund to partner organizations.
According to him, Japan International Cooperation Agency had supported 114 communities in the state in the area of water and sanitation to improve their wellbeing.
Magaji recalled that few months after he assumed office, Governor Abubakar supported the agency with the provision of 300 hand pump boreholes in Shira and Toro Local Government Areas of the state as an encouragement to donor organizations.
On the Agency’s 2016 plan of action, Magaji unveiled the agency’s plans to rehabilitate its dysfunctional machineries and provide water and sanitation facilities to individuals and communities for commercial purposes.
He also disclosed that Bauchi State Government in collaboration with UNICEF will next month officially declare Dass Local Government Area free of open defecation, thus making it the first Local Government in the country to enjoy such privilege.
The General Manager called on beneficiaries of the agency’s services to put hands on deck by taking ownership of all facilities it provided in their respective areas in order to improve their livelihood.
