Nigerian Army donates industrial borehole to Nasarawa community

The Nigerian Army on Friday, inaugurated solar powered industrial borehole equipped with 20KVA Generator for Rinze Community in Akwanga West Development Area, Nasarawa State to address the perennial water problem in the community.

The project was executed by the Department of Civil Military Affairs as part of the Chief of Army Staff’s civil-military cooperation intervention project.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Ogbe Ali said the project was in line with his command philosophy of cooperation.

Yahaya said the army had over the years taken deliberate steps towards ensuring that it gave back to society for the corporation it enjoyed from them.

He said the project was part of the Army’s corporate Social responsibility in communities where it conducts internal security operations.

According to him, the project is an immediate response to the request by the community to realise the dreams of the conception and completion of the water projects.

“This enforces the civil-military cooperation drive of the Nigerian army, geared towards bridging the communication gap between the citizens and the Nigerian army.

“It is our desire to ensure that we are connected to various communities where they conduct internal security operations in order to enhance civil-military cooperation, as well as win the hearts and minds of our operations.

“The project being commissioned today is one of the several civil-military cooperation related activities and quick impact projects executed in various parts of the country towards contributing to national development.

“Thus, I believe this project will assist you to eliminate the dearth of portable drinking water facing this community and its immediate environs.

“Therefore, I want to appeal to you to see this project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian army and your community.

“Let it foster the desired peace, progress and indeed bring prosperity to the community as well,” he said.

The COAS commended the people for the cooperation and support they had given to the Command Science Technical Secondary School located in the community over the years.

He urged them to take advantage of the school to encourage their children to go to school, adding that illiteracy was part of the reasons for the insecurity in the country.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Nuhu Ochafu, thanked the Nigerian Army for bringing succour to the community.

Sule said the project was aimed at increasing access to safe drinking water and promoting sanitation and hygiene in rural communities.

He said the intervention by the Nigerian army was timely given the commitment of his administration to provide potable water and promote sanitation and hygiene across the states.

This, according to him, is a demonstration of the commitment of the government to key into various programmes by the Federal Government and donor agencies as part of efforts to meet global standards has increased, as envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goal.

The governor urged the community to give the necessary support and desired attention to the maintenance of the project, adding that he expected good reports on the management and maintenance of the facilities for the benefit of the people.

(NAN)