Sokoto State Government has issued a statement to address misconceptions about its recent water infrastructure project in Wurno Local Government Area.
The government clarified that the N1.2 billion expenditure was for drilling new boreholes and related projects, not for renovating existing ones as previously reported.
Key Points:
1. The project involved drilling 25 new solar-powered boreholes across five areas: Munki, Marnona, Dinawa, Lugu, and Wurno.
2. Additional work included perimeter fencing and a 40-kilometer shelter belt.
3. The project was a collaboration between the Sokoto State Government, the World Bank, and the ACReSAL programme.
4. The government emphasizes that these are new installations, not renovations of existing boreholes.
According to the press release, the areas benefiting from this project had been facing acute water scarcity for a long time. Residents often had to travel long distances to fetch water for domestic use, which reportedly contributed to low pupil enrollment and retention in local schools.
Abubakar Bawa, Press Secretary to the Sokoto State Governor, stated, “You can’t renovate a project that does not exist, so there was not a single borehole drilled in those areas before the advent of the present administration in Sokoto state.”
The government further clarified that the N1.2 billion project also included:
– Perimeter fencing
– A 40-kilometer shelter belt
– 500-hectare forest enrichment
This clarification comes in response to circulating reports that suggested the funds were spent on renovating existing boreholes. The Sokoto State Government maintains that this project represents new infrastructure aimed at addressing long-standing water scarcity issues in the affected communities.
The Ahmed Aliyu administration describes this initiative as part of its efforts to improve access to potable drinking water for rural dwellers across the state.
