Nigeria: Tobacco Firm Sinks Boreholes for Community

Source from:  Daily Champion (Lagos) 16 September 2008 09/17/2008

The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation last Friday in Du, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, handed over two solar-powered boreholes to the community. Handing over the boreholes to the Plateau State government, the foundation's Chairman, Chief Olu Akinkugbe, said that each of the boreholes was equipped with a 20, 000 litre-tank and a solar panel, among other accessories. Akinkugbe said that the foundation was committed to supporting the ongoing campaign for the eradication of water-borne diseases in Nigeria through the provision of potable water to some communities. According to him, this is because safe drinking water plays a vital role in the health, sanitation, welfare and productivity of the people. He said that the foundation was also committed to reducing poverty through agricultural development, water supply, environmental protection and education. Inaugurating the boreholes, Gov. Jonah Jang said that his administration was committed to improving the water supply situation in the state, as part of its efforts to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Jang said that his administration had spent over N17 million on refurbishing the broken-down facilities of the Yakubu Gowon Dam water treatment plant. He said that the government had also bought and installed a new 2,000 KVA power transformer to boost electricity supply to the plant. Jang, however, said that the government should not be left alone in providing potable water for the people, urging other organisations to emulate BATN's gesture in complementing the government's efforts. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mallam Idi Waziri, thanked BATN for the boreholes. He said that the government was also constructing earth dams across the state for domestic and agricultural uses. Enditem