From Khalid Idris Doya, Bauchi
The lawmaker representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has provided 40 solar-powered boreholes across seven Local Government Areas in the district.
The project is part of the senator’s broader constituency intervention aimed at addressing critical infrastructure gaps, particularly in water supply, healthcare, education, and rural electrification.
The newly commissioned solar-powered boreholes are expected to resolve long-standing water scarcity in many communities while significantly improving access to clean and safe drinking water. The development sparked celebrations across the seven local government areas, as residents described the intervention as life-changing.
The boreholes were distributed across the district as follows Bauchi Local Government Area received 15 boreholes, Toro Local Government Area got seven, while Alkaleri, Kirfi, and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas received four boreholes each while Dass and Bogoro Local Government Areas benefited from three boreholes each.
Community members welcomed the project with gratitude, noting that improved access to clean water would enhance sanitation, reduce waterborne diseases, and ease the daily burden of fetching water from distant and unsafe sources.
Some residents described water as “A lifesaver,” explaining that families often went without meals, not due to lack of food, but because clean water for cooking and drinking was unavailable.
Malam Aminu Ado, a resident of Tirwun, said the community had endured years without potable water, “For a long time, we did not see water flowing from any tap. Today, with the senator’s intervention, our struggle for clean water is over,” he said.
Similarly, Ibrahim Muhammad, a meat seller in the community, described the hardship caused by water scarcity, noting that the new borehole would greatly improve both hygiene and livelihoods.
Residents also pledged to collectively maintain the facilities to ensure sustainability and long-term benefits.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony yesterday, a community leader, Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Danmaliki, commended Senator Buba for his commitment to addressing the needs of the people.
He said the project would significantly improve the quality of life across the communities.
Addressing the gathering, Senator Shehu Buba Umar reaffirmed his dedication to delivering essential services to his constituents.
“Access to clean water is a basic necessity. I am committed to ensuring that every community in Bauchi South benefits from projects that promote health and development,” he said.
The senator explained that the boreholes were part of his constituency projects, noting that during his election campaign he visited 72 out of the 75 wards in the district, where water scarcity was a common concern raised by residents.
He added that while the 40 solar-powered boreholes commissioned were constituency projects, he had also personally funded the construction and rehabilitation of several other boreholes across different parts of the state.
According to Senator Buba, the benefiting communities were selected based on population density, stressing that millions of residents are expected to benefit from the initiative.
