Date: 2016-04-04

A United Kingdom based charity organisation- Hope Spring - has donated a motorised borehole for Kongbari community in Okelele area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The founder of Hope Spring,Temitope Odurinde, who was represented by Spring Hope representative in Nigeria, Mr Mubaraq Oladosu during the inauguration of the borehole in Ilorin on Sunday said the community. was considered because of its peculiar water challenge and spirit of community development shown by the people through their self-help projects.

He stated that the motorised borehole replaced the hand pump, which the community had been using for over 16 years, adding that the new motorised borehole has a storage capacity of 7,500 litres of water.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr. Abdulrazaq Akorede has said the state government would spend N1bn out of the proposed N20bn bond for the ongoing Ilorin Water reticulation project.

He stated that the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had declared a state of emergency on water supply in the State, adding that presently, more than 25 communities are benefiting from water supply from water tankers on daily basis.

He spoke to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after a tour of some water projects and a courtesy visit on him by the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter. There had been acute water scarcity especially in Ilorin metropolis for some time.

The commissioner also said the state government would enact a law that would regulate borehole drilling in the state.

He urged indigenous borehole drillers to maintain high standards and professionalism, adding that they must take cognizance of avoidable hazards in borehole drilling.

He stated that the essence of the expected law was to reduce hazards and streamline borehole drilling in the state.

He urged members of the association to collaborate more with the government in efforts to provide drinkable and portable water, increase government's revenue and boost standard of living and quality of life in the state.

Akorede said the state government was committed to ensure more water provision in the state. He said vandalisation of Western Reservoir stalled the commitment of the state government to make water more available in Ilorin metropolis.

He, however said Ahmed had ordered a replacement of all the vandalised properties, adding that there would be enough water for the people after work had been completed on the vandalised properties. He stated that the Ilorin reticulation water project was still on-going.