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By Temitope Aina
Residents of Gidan Na-Ari Community in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State have received relief from more than two decades of water scarcity following the commissioning of a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole by the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation.
The facility is expected to end the long journeys undertaken by residents, particularly women and children, who had travelled several kilometres to neighbouring communities in search of potable water.
Village Head of Gidan Na-Ari, Abdulwahab Ya’u, said the absence of a reliable water source had imposed severe hardship on residents over the years.
“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.
The facility has five water dispensing points and a manual hand pump as backup, while its solar-powered system is designed to provide a reliable and sustainable supply.
General Manager of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said the project went beyond the provision of water, describing access to clean water as critical to health, livelihoods and community development.
“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.
According to him, easier access to water would reduce the time women and children spend searching for it and allow them to devote more attention to education, household responsibilities and other productive activities.
The Foundation said the facility would also support farming, small businesses and other economic activities, while improving hygiene and sanitation in the community.
The borehole was commissioned by the Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources on behalf of Governor Umar Namadi.
Government officials, traditional leaders, development partners and other stakeholders attended the ceremony.
The project forms part of BATN Foundation’s interventions in rural communities, covering community infrastructure, agricultural empowerment, enterprise development and livelihood support.
