By Abdullahi Lukman
The Nigerian Navy has commissioned a 35,000-litre solar-powered water project in Muye Community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, to improve access to potable water and strengthen civil-military relations.
The project, executed under the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Quick Impact Project initiative, comprises an industrial solar-powered borehole, a 35,000-litre elevated water storage tank and a water reticulation network designed to provide sustainable access to clean water for residents.
Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday , the Project Facilitator and Commandant of the Naval War College Nigeria, Rear Admiral Muhammed Adamu Muye, said the intervention reflects the Navy’s commitment to supporting community development alongside its security responsibilities.
He explained that the Quick Impact Project, introduced in 2024, enables senior naval officers to undertake community-based development projects that complement government efforts and promote stronger civil-military cooperation.
According to Muye, the initiative was conceived to address the persistent shortage of potable water in the community, noting that improved access to clean water would help reduce waterborne diseases, ease the burden on women and children, support healthcare delivery and boost economic activities.
He urged community leaders and residents to protect the facility from vandalism and establish effective maintenance mechanisms to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Director of Veteran Affairs at Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Raheem Taofeek, said the project demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to national development beyond safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He noted that the Quick Impact Project forms part of the Navy’s Civil-Military Cooperation strategy and aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by encouraging senior officers to contribute to the development of their communities.
Taofeek commended Rear Admiral Muye for delivering the project and appealed to residents to make proper use of the facility while supporting the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies through cooperation and the provision of credible information.
Community leaders and traditional rulers described the water scheme as a timely intervention that would improve public health, reduce hardship and promote socio-economic development in Muye Community.