In a significant gesture of civil-military collaboration, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, on Wednesday commissioned an 80,000-litre solar-powered motorized borehole water project in Kaoje, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The project is part of the CNS Special Intervention Quick Impact Projects and was facilitated by Rear Admiral Hamza Umar Farouk Kaoje, a native of the community and Chief of Communication and Information Technology, Nigerian Navy.
The CNS, who was represented by Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, commended Rear Admiral Kaoje for his commitment to grassroots development. He explained that the CNS Quick Impact Project initiative, launched in 2024, aims to strengthen civil-military relations while supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Civil Military Cooperation encompasses interactions between the military and civil society towards achieving strategic objectives,This project not only meets a pressing need for potable water but also demonstrates our resolve to serve beyond our traditional roles.”he said.
Vice Admiral Ogalla praised the timeliness and quality of the project, which provides an essential resource to a region grappling with water access challenges. “Water is life, and clean water means health,” he noted, quoting late British actress Audrey Hepburn. “The people of Kaoje will remember this gesture for years to come.”
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, the project facilitator, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to his community. He emphasized the importance of impacting lives directly and reaffirmed his commitment to the values of the Nigerian Navy.
Representing the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu), the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Bello Kaoje, appreciated the Nigerian Navy for their intervention. He noted that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority on infrastructure and quality of life.
“Water is essential for human development, agriculture, and livestock,” he said. “The provision of potable water is key to poverty alleviation, hygiene, and income generation. This project will drastically reduce waterborne diseases and promote sanitation in Kaoje.”
The Governor assured that the state government would work with local authorities and water users’ associations to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability of the facility.
Earlier, the Emir and District Head of Kaoje, Alhaji Mustapha Kaoje, welcomed the Navy and commended them for the life-changing gesture. He said the project would go a long way in addressing the perennial water scarcity in the area, added that the community would remain supportive of all security agencies.
The CNS also used the opportunity to appeal to the good people of Kaoje and Kebbi State to continue collaborating with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in ensuring peace and national security.
The event concluded with the official tape-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the formal commissioning and handover of the water scheme to the community.
