BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, ILORIN
LONG before now, residents of Ijara-Isin, in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State have suffered untold hardship over lack or near absence of potable water in the town. So when the British Rican Tobacco Nigeria Foundation offered to assist the state government in the area of provision of water, Ijara Isin was promptly submitted for the project.

Within a short time, the solar powered borehole situated at Ofatedo community, in Ijara Isin which cost about N5 million was completed and handed over to the community, which, led by the monarchs and all the high chiefs rolled out the drums in celebration.

Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Mr. Ibikunle, who represented the chairman, Dr. Christopher Kolade at the event, recalled that since its establishment in November 2002, the Foundation has provided potable water to 52 communities across the six geo-political zones in the country.

Noting that the Foundation’s high point of water is because water is critical to human life and survival, he said: “We can hardly do anything without water; we drink it, we use it in cooking our food, and in keeping ourselves and our property clean and presentable.

In fact, it is safe to declare that WATER IS LIFE. This is one of the  reasons why we are all seriously concerned when our people do not have easy access to safe water  for drinking, and for other household uses. It is even more distressing when people are exposed to various kinds of diseases because their water carries impurities.

The prevalence of water-borne ailments has presented a continuing challenge in Nigeria and other parts of the world.”

One of the effects of the situation, according to him is that: “A lot of resources that should be committed to the development of other vital sectors of the economy have to be deployed to the provision of drugs to treat water-borne diseases in many of the communities.

If indeed, we are to succeed in our national aim of alleviating poverty and bringing about socio economic development, it is clear that the provision of safe and potable water to the entire citizenry will give us a credible platform for success.”

While handing over the ownership of the water project to the community, Dr. Kolade explained that “the facility does not require any significant maintenance, and therefore will not be a drain on the resources of the community.”

He added: “It is our desire that members of the Ofatedo community will treat this facility as your own, and use it with special care. As responsible owners, it will be your collective duty to ensure that there is no vandalisation or any activity that may deprive the entire community of this precious benefit”.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Idris Abubakar Garba, commended the donor and pledged the support of the state government in the maintenance of the water project.

The commissioner, who said that ever-increasing population had caused rise in water needs among the people, added that five communities in Isin LGA, namely, Ijara, Owu, Kudu, Isanlu and Oba had benefitted from potable water provision policy of of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed administration just within the first 100 days in office.

The chairman of Isin LGA in his speech at the event said the importance of the project to the overall development of the community cannot be over emphasised considering the sufferings encountered by the people especially during the dry season.

He expressed the belief that water borne diseases among other forms of harship would be over with the provision of the project, adding that the provision is another way of alleviating the poverty among the people.

Its indeed the dawn of a new era immediately after the commissioning, as the residents with joy boldly written on their faces were seen trooping out enmasse to fetch the water designed to generate 200,000 litres daily to conveniently meet the needs of the people of ijara-isin