Minister of Water Re-sources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari has said that out of the 60 per cent target of Obasanjo's administration for rural water supply throughout the country by 2003, about 50 per cent mark has been reached.

He said this at Okaito while commissioning mechanised boreholes in Kogi and Kwara States under the Senatorial districts borehole water supply programme of the Lower River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA).

The minister told the various communities that before the present administration, only 30 per cent presence of the 120 million Nigerians had access to good drinking water.

Therefore the government was determined to correct the anomaly by embarking on a massive rural water supply programme by setting a 60 per cent target for rural water supply before the year 2003.

According to him, it was time Nigerians stopped drinking water he called poto-poto water so as to eradicate Gunea-worm, Bilharzia, typhoid etc.

Alhaji Shagari further wished that no Nigerian child or woman would suffer to get water when time should be spent in either reading books or engaging in other productive ventures adding that by the year 2003, the remaining 10 per cent of the rural water supply schemes would be completed.

However, he stressed, the communities should ensure the return of President Obasanjo for a second term so that he could complete the fulfilment of his pledge of better life for Nigerians.

Alhaji Shagari commissioned boreholes at Okaito, Okoro Gbedde, Mopa, Idofin-Isanlu and Egbe in Kogi States, and Oke-Opin, Omu-Aran, Edidi, Erin-Ille, Ira, Offa and Ilorin in Kwara State where he also inaugurated the new table water of LNRBDA called BASIN WATER.

Several distinguished staff of LNRBDA were given awards to mark its 25th anniversary.