The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has commissioned a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole in Gidan Na-Ari Community, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, easing years of difficulty in accessing potable water.
For more than two decades, residents of the community, particularly women and children, had travelled several kilometres to neighbouring communities in search of water.
The newly commissioned facility has five water dispensing points, a solar-powered pumping system and a manual hand pump to provide residents with more reliable access to water.
Residents Recall Years of Water Struggle
The Village Head of Gidan Na-Ari, Abdulwahab Ya’u, said the project had relieved residents of a major burden.
“Before now, we normally travelled several kilometres to fetch water from neighbouring communities. Our children and women suffered a lot before they could get water,” Ya’u said.
He said the availability of water within the community would make daily life easier, particularly for women and children who previously spent considerable time searching for the basic necessity.
Foundation Highlights Wider Benefits
The General Manager of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said access to clean and reliable water was essential to the development of rural communities.
“Access to clean and reliable water is much more than a basic infrastructure need. It is a foundation for healthier families, stronger livelihoods and more productive communities,” Odusanya said.
He added that the project would allow women and children to redirect the time previously spent fetching water towards productive activities at home and within the community.
According to the foundation, improved access to water could also support farming, small businesses, hygiene and sanitation while helping to reduce exposure to water-borne diseases.
Jigawa Government Commends Intervention
The Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources commissioned the borehole on behalf of the state Governor, Umar Namadi.
The governor commended the foundation for providing what he described as a practical response to the needs of rural communities.
Government officials, traditional leaders, development partners and other stakeholders attended the commissioning ceremony.
Project Part of Rural Development Programme
BATN Foundation said the borehole was part of its broader rural development programme, which focuses on community infrastructure, agricultural empowerment, enterprise development and livelihood enhancement.
For residents of Gidan Na-Ari, the project is expected to provide more than access to water by creating more time for economic activities while supporting improved health, dignity and sustainable community development.
