Minister of Water Resources, Prof Joseph Utsev has commissioned a solar-powered borehole at Durumi, Abuja as part of activities to mark the 2024 World Water Day.
Prof Utsev said this was part of the ministry’s resolve to alleviate the plight of residents in their quest to access safe water adding that the ministry has constructed 6,761 water schemes to serve over 32 million people in urban, semi-urban and rural areas across the country.
The minister lamented that 25 percent of Nigerians get their water from open streams and ponds which are often polluted thereby constituting a health challenge to the masses.
He thanked development partners including UNESCO, WaterAid, Fordmarx and LG Electronics for their invaluable efforts and called for continuous collaborations for greater success in the water sector.
In his remarks, Clifford Nnaji from Fordmarx Nigeria Limited pledged to construct 37 solar-powered boreholes and 37 solar-powered irrigation plants for the 36 states and the FCT, and also create 50 million jobs within a year.
Awards were also presented to schools including Model Secondary School Maitama and Shining Star Group of Schools for performing excellently in a quiz competition organised to mark the day.
UNESCO representative, Abourahamanne Diallo, regretted that over 90 percent of waste-water in developing countries are channeled into running water without treatment adding that 80 percent of rural dwellers lack access to safe water.
Diallo called on government to bridge the poverty and inequality gap among the people to reduce conflicts and social tension in the country.
