Kaduna—The Kaduna State Government, yesterday said it spent more than N1.2 billion in 2013 on the drilling of 754 bore holes across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Ado Audu, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kaduna that the project was part of intervention measures to address water scarcity in various communities.

He said 680 hand pumps were provided across the 34 local government areas of the state at the cost of more than N837.1 million under the government’s constituency projects intervention programme.
Audu said each of the local councils were provided with 20 bore holes, adding that the projects were 82.9 per cent complete.

According to him, the administration is also constructing 46 solar powered bore holes at the cost of N373. 39 million of which work has reached 73.7 per cent completion stage.
“The state government in collaboration with the MDGs has also constructed 16 hand pump bore holes and one solar powered bore hole, three ventilated improved pit latrines at the cost of over N21 million and N5.2 million respectively.

“The government has in the course of the year paid N322.53 million being current and outstanding liabilities under the MDGs arrangement to various contractors.”
On urban water supply, Audu said more than N489.3 million was spent last year to enhance water supply for residents of Kaduna, Kafanchan, Zaria, Kagoro, Zonkwa and Saminaka.