The persistent water scarcity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria and its environs have attracted government attention.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rural Water Supply and Sanitisation Agency (FCT RUWASA) on Friday disclosed that it has established and trained a group of rural dwellers on the maintenance of hand pump boreholes to enhance access to potable water.
The executive director, FCT RUWASSA, Dr. Muhammad Dan-Hassan, made this known yesterday at the commencement of the training for the 36 artisans, tagged Village Level Operation and Maintainance (VLOM), from the six area councils and some officials of the agency in Abuja yesterday.
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He said the training was borne out of a partnership between the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) and the Nigerian Government, it seeks to increase the functional status of water schemes in rural communities, adding that about half of the hand pump boreholes in these communities had broken down.
He identified lack of ownership culture, poor village level operation, and maintenance as reasons the rural water schemes were not sustainable.
‘There is a need to establish a village level operation and management of water supply schemes to ensure improved sustainability of water facilities,’ he said, adding that the move would ensure that the rural populace have access to a potable water source and the incidence of waterborne diseases are eliminated to the barest minimum.
One of the participants, Mr. Madaki Aduga Luka from Kuje Area Council, a borehole artisan, commended the organizers, adding that he had learned more about the functions and maintenance of boreholes, which he said would benefit members of his community.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
