Dutse – The Jigawa Government in collaboration with its development partners, have commenced construction of 990 water hand pumps in rural areas across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Hanu-Giwa, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Dutse in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that 600 water pumps had so far been constructed in various villages across the state, adding that more would be constructed before the end of 2016.
The commissioner said that the project was being jointly executed by the government, UNICEF and the European Union (EU).
“The project we are undertaking with the EU is funded 50 per cent by the government and 50 per cent by the European Union.
“The government contributed 30 per cent of the funds for projects executed in collaboration with UNICEF which contributed 70 per cent,’’ he said.
Hanu-Giwa told NAN that the government had commenced conversion of 18 mechanised water systems in urban towns to solar power to reduce cost.
He said that government spent N62 million in June this year to fuel generators that powered some water systems in the state.
He said that the administration of Gov. Muhammad Badaru was committed to providing clean and safe drinking water to its citizenry. (NAN)