Residents of 10 wards in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State have gained improved access to potable water following the rehabilitation and commissioning of 10 solar-powered boreholes facilitated through the intervention of the Niger State First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago.
The intervention covers Enagi, Etsu Tasha, Fazhi, Gazhe I, Gazhe II, Gbangban, Gonagi, Guzan, Rokota and Sakpe wards, and is aimed at addressing water challenges confronting rural communities while improving public health, household welfare and grassroots development.
The boreholes were commissioned in Etsu Tasha Ward during a visit to the local government by a delegation representing the First Lady and led by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Jacob Baba Yisa.
The delegation also included the Commissioners for Health, and Mining and Minerals Resources, while the Chairman of Edati Local Government Area, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents participated in the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Baba Yisa said the intervention demonstrated the First Lady’s commitment to identifying and addressing practical challenges affecting communities, particularly at the grassroots.
He described access to safe and reliable water as fundamental to public health, household welfare and economic productivity, noting that extending the intervention to all 10 wards would enable more residents to benefit.
He commended Fatima Bago for prioritising projects with direct and measurable impact on communities, while appreciating OESHE, a Nigeria-Russian non-governmental organisation, for complementing the initiative with the donation of additional water tanks for selected project locations.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, described the intervention as both a water and public health project, noting that access to safe water would help reduce waterborne diseases and improve hygiene and sanitation practices.
Bagana urged residents to take ownership of the facilities, protect them from damage and work with relevant authorities to ensure their continued functionality.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Mining and Minerals Resources, Hon. Qassim Danjuma, said the project demonstrated the wider socioeconomic benefits that could arise from interventions based on the actual needs of communities.
He stressed that sustainable development should be measured not only by the number of infrastructure projects delivered but also by the extent to which such projects improve living conditions and enhance people’s capacity to pursue productive livelihoods.
The Chairman of Edati Local Government Area, Hon. Usman Ndana, expressed appreciation to the First Lady for extending the intervention to all 10 wards.
Ndana described the commissioning as an important development for communities that have faced difficulties accessing reliable water sources, assuring that the council would work with traditional institutions, community leaders and residents to protect the facilities.
He called on beneficiary communities to regard the boreholes as shared community assets and take responsibility for their proper use and protection.
The OESHE delegation, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Stan Che, described the intervention as an example of how development partnerships could support locally driven solutions to community challenges.
The organisation’s Chief Growth Development Officer, Olga Stalone, said OESHE was attracted to the initiative because of its direct impact on ordinary residents and its focus on addressing a fundamental community need.
She explained that the donation of water tanks was intended to complement the borehole projects and strengthen their sustainability.
Stalone expressed optimism that the partnership between OESHE and stakeholders in Niger State would create opportunities for further collaboration in areas capable of improving the living conditions of rural communities.
The Edati intervention brought together government-linked initiatives, community participation and development partnerships in addressing one of the most basic needs of rural residents access to safe and reliable water.
