Linus Oota, Lafia
A governorship aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Nasarawa State, Hon. David Ombugadu, has constructed 1,500 boreholes across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Nasarawa State is one among the states in Nigeria where over 70 per cent of the rural population lack access to improved water sources which is responsible for the high prevalence of waterborne diseases, like diarrhea and other illness mostly acquired from contaminated water, which kills children under the age of five yearly.
Hon. Ombugadu is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, Wamba federal constituency of Nasarawa State.
He disclosed this during a tour to inspect the final installation phase of the areas, noting that the project cost N1.8 billion.
He said the construction of boreholes especially in the rural areas was part of his little way of giving back to the society, adding that the boreholes would also reduce the hardship being faced by the rural dwellers in getting safe drinking water.
He explained that clean drinking water is a right yet a large number of the population still live without access to clean water and regretted that the core source of water in the rural areas of the state is the community stream, where their cattle’s also quench their thirst in the same stream with the human beings.
The governorship hopeful said that aside from the project, he intended to roll out other projects across the state which has direct benefit to the rural communities, adding that he had earlier drilled another 270 motorise boreholes, build health facilities, ultra modern theater complex, primary health care clinics in several rural areas within the Wamba, Nasarawa Eggon and Akwanga local government areas where he represents at the green chamber of the National Assembly
He explain that the idea behind this project is that, as a philanthropist, he believes in giving back to the society and urged the benefiting communities to bless him to do more as they use the boreholes, he urged them to make good use of the facility and ensure constant maintenance to maximizes its use.
Speaking at different locations of the boreholes, the beneficiaries Mrs. Patience Farata of Tudun Gwandara and Mohammed Abubakar of Bakin Rijiya areas commended the foresight and selfless service of the law maker for bringing an end to the scarcity of water that ravaged the communities for years.