By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
The Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has officially handed over six newly constructed solar-powered boreholes to various communities within the Gombe metropolis, bringing a definitive end to years of acute water scarcity.
Represented by the Assistant General Manager Sector Lead WASH, Yahaya Umaru Shabewa, the General Manager of the agency, Engr. Muhammad Ahmad Gibirimu, charged the benefiting residents to take full ownership of the facilities and cultivate a strong maintenance culture.
He emphasized that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has made massive financial investments to alleviate the aged-long sufferings of the people regarding potable drinking water.
”We urge you to secure these sites vigilantly,” the General Manager warned, cautioning against criminal elements who might attempt to sabotage the government’s efforts by stealing expensive solar components.
The six strategic locations benefiting from the intervention include Dawaki at Kofar Mai Dalan Gombe, Karan Gada Police Area Command, Wuro Shi’e, Yerima Quarters Bypass, Umar Centre at Jekadafari, Wuro Liman, and Bolari West, all within the Gombe metropolis.
Each of the newly inaugurated water schemes boasts a 30,000-liter capacity equipped with three fetching points designed to serve approximately 250 people simultaneously.
The interventions have been met with profound gratitude and commitment from the grassroots. Speaking on behalf of the Jekadafari community, Alhaji Hassan Roka commended the state government for fulfilling its promise.
Echoing this sentiment, the Chief Imam of Umar Centre, Malam Abubakar Alaramma, alongside community leader Yahaya Musa, announced plans to form a dedicated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Committee to oversee the day-to-day management and sustainability of the facility.
Similarly, at Bolari West along Layin Hamma Adama, the Ward Head, Alhaji Uba Pindiga, joined by Alhaji Ibrahim Sale and an APC stakeholder Alhaji Mannir Hamma Adama, lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the impactful project while guaranteeing its absolute protection.
For the residents of Wuro Liman, the project marks a historic milestone. Receiving the facility, community members offered prayers for the leadership of the agency, noting that it represents the very first government-executed project of its kind in their area.
“We promise not to allow bad elements to tamper with this facility; it is ours to protect,” a community spokesperson affirmed.
The handover team led by the Assistant General Manager also featured the Secretary and Admin Officer of the agency, Adamu Umar Kuji, alongside other senior RUWASSA officials.