By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

At least 21 rural communities in Cross River have been provided with portable drinking water by Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe within the last year.

Sen. Agom-Jarigbe who is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District in the National Assembly made the disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar while reeling out his scorecard as a Senator in the last year.

While describing his journey as a Senator as the longest in the history of the state,Sen. Jarigbe said his passion to serve his people in a different capacity was his motivating factor.

He said: ” Indeed, this September makes me one year in the Senate. I was inaugurated in the Upper Legislative Chamber on September 15, 2021, after many political tussles.

“It was not an easy battle to the Senate because I fought against the state that was determined to have its way by hook or by crook,” he stated.

He said before his intervention in water projects that cut across five Local Government Areas, the people lacked access to water supply and as such, experienced perennial water shortage.

“I was challenged in this area because these are communities who have previously decried the perennial water shortage and lack of access to safe drinking water. They were abandoned to their fate by the government of the state.

“Rural water project is primarily meant to fulfill the basic needs of the people, as well as to ensure rights of access to safe domestic water, good health hygiene and other basic amenities by the affected communities.”

Agom-Jarigbe who said he has projects scattered across the 54 wards in the senatorial district, said his dream of uplifting the standard of living of his people remain unwavering even in the face of paucity of fund at the federal level.

He noted that he has been able to influence the construction of the 65km Okuku-Ecumoga Road that linked the state at Yala Local Government to Benue State.

“The flag off of the project which was awarded at a cost of N1.4bn by the federal government, would open up economic activities between the two states and also serve as a link to the northern part of the country

“There is also a 2 kilometers Ikaptang-Aafrike road that would link Bekwarra and Ogoja communities in CrossRiver.We have again asked for an intervention on the Ukelle road and it’s under consideration at the moment,” Jarigbe said