From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Stakeholders in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to address the problem of water scarcity in the area.
They made the appeal on Friday during a Town Hall meeting as part of activities to commemorate the second anniversary of the present administration, held at the school Auditorium, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Speaking during the meeting, the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, appealed to the governor to address the problem of water scarcity in the state to alleviate the plight of residents.
Senator Adamu lauded the efforts of the Sule led administration towards protecting lives and property as well as the provision of infrastructure to better the welfare of the people.
On his part, former House of Representatives Member, Mr Ahmed Wadada said the lack of regular water supply by Water Board was a serious problem confronting the people of the area.
Mr Wadada who is the Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), charged the governor to strengthen the capacity of the state Water Board for better service delivery.
He also appealed to the governor to emulate the administration of Abdullahi Adamu, the first civilian governor of the state who throughout his tenure made water available to the people of the state.
The former law maker commended the governor for his developmental strides recorded so far in the LGA, saying the ongoing neighbourhood market, Keffi Square, schools, medical centres among others was laudable.
Responding, Governor Sule said that the challenge of water scarcity in Keffi was due to lack of proper maintenance of the pipes from Gudi in Akwanga LGA that supply water to Keffi LGA.
The governor said government was working hard, in order to fix broken pipes to ensure regular water supply in Keffi.
He, therefore, appreciated the people for their openness in airing their demands and challenges faced by the people, assuring that government would look into all their demands and act appropriately.
Earlier, the governor commissioned the electrification project in Angwan Madugu and paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness, Dr Shehu Yamusa.
In another development, Governor Sule has flagged off the construction of 57 kilometers Angoro-Bassa rural road in Kokona Local Government Area (LGA) of the state as part of activities commemorating the second anniversary of his administration.
Governor Sule also flagged off 17 kilometers Gudi-Moroa road in Akwanga LGA to boost agricultural and economic activities in the area.
Speaking on Friday while performing flag-off in Kokona LGA, he said the construction of rural roads was one of his administration’s initiative aimed at opening up rural communities in the state.
The governor said the road when completed will open up the areas to commercial activities and help in transporting agricultural produce to the market and boost the income of the people.
He noted that his administration would cater for the needs of all categories of people, including the rural communities, in a bid to up open new towns in the state as well as securing lives and property of the people.
In a remark, the Director General, Rural Development, Nasarawa State, Engr Mustapha Yahuza Musa, said the construction of the road would help in the transportation of goods and services from the hinterlands to the centre.
“This road Angoro junction to Bassa has actually been earmarked for rural roads department this year. Somewhere the noble members representing this local government with their personal efforts in conjunction with an indigene of this area have offered to render some services on clearing the road before the rainy season sets in properly.
“This is an effort to make the delivery of transportation of goods and services from the hinterland to the centre. It is in recognition inline with that, that this road from Angoro junction to Bassa, a distance of about 57 kilometers has now been partially cleared for a distance of about 10 Kilometers by the Managing Director of Forest Engineering Limited,” he said.
On his part, the Managing Director, Forest Engineering Limited, Dr Shahir Mohammed said: “We have come to your place and we have learnt the meaning of service. We use to think we could deliver service until we saw what his Excellency has been doing in Nasarawa and I have come to learn what service to the people mean.”
Earlier, the governor paid a courtesy call on the Abaga Toni II of Toni Chiefdom, His Royal Highness (HRH) Mr Lawrence Ayih, at his palace in Garaku, Kokona LGA and held a Town Hall meeting with the people.