By Abdullahi Lukman
Water supply in conflict-affected parts of Yobe State received a boost on Monday as the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) handed over expanded water infrastructure to state agencies to address long-standing shortages.
The projects, transferred to the Yobe State Water Corporation and RUWASA, include the upgraded Buni Gari Water Supply Scheme, which now serves Buni Yadi and surrounding communities in Gujba Local Government Area.
The facility features four solar-powered boreholes, 300,000 litres of storage capacity, a 50 KVA power connection, and an expanded pipeline network, including a 6-kilometre reticulation system designed to improve water distribution across the area.
The NEDC also provided submersible pumps and accessories to support the rehabilitation of broken-down boreholes across the state, aimed at restoring access to clean water in rural communities.
Speaking at the handover, NEDC Yobe Coordinator, Ali Ibrahim Abbas, said the intervention was designed to strengthen water access in underserved and conflict-affected areas, adding that the facilities have been completed and transferred for state management.
Receiving the infrastructure, the General Manager of the Yobe State Water Corporation, Ba’Abba Habu, described the project as significant, saying it would improve water availability and support community development.
He pledged proper maintenance to ensure long-term benefit.
Residents of the benefiting communities welcomed the development, saying improved water access would reduce the burden of long-distance water collection, particularly for women and children, while also helping to curb waterborne diseases.
The intervention is part of ongoing efforts by development agencies to rebuild basic infrastructure and improve living conditions in parts of the North-East affected by insecurity and limited public services.
