Leadership (Abuja)
Bala Salihu
10 October 2007
Dutse — Jigawa state government is to provide electricity and water to its rural communities through solar energy so as to enhance the wellbeing of its citizens.
The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hajia Fatima Widi Jalo who stated this shortly after she visited Wawan Rafi solar power project as part of familiarisation tour to agencies and parastatals under her ministry, said she visited Gantsa and Ahoto in Buji local government area of the state, where she assessed some solar energy equipment, ranging from solar panels and batteries.
Mrs Jalo said the people of Ahoto had complained that the equipment for their solar system have been vandalised, which resulted in lack of potable water in the community, a situation which forced them to trek to neighboring Bauchi state to fetch water.
Describing the situation as bad, she attributed it to poor maintenance culture but assured that government will do something about it .
The commissioner said that, the solar energy equipment are unique, saying that at the end of her tour, she will present a comprehensive report to the state government, adding that she also visited Garkon Alli, another solar pilot scheme, where she had discussion with the care taker chairman of kiyawa local government, on how her ministry would collaborate with his council in order to ensure that Garkon Alli, solar project become functional.
She said that she was highly impressed on the Wawan Rafi project in kazaure local government, where 60 houses are enjoying electricity and water through solar energy systems, adding that Informatics Institute Kazaure, was also connected with solar energy.
She expressed concern on how she met many solar panels vandalised, a trend she attributed to lackadaisical attitude of the beneficiaries.
Hajia Fatima expressed concern that 20 casual staff working under the state Alternative Energy Agency were yet to received their monthly allowance for 17months, pointing out that government will soon do something about it.
Hajia Fatima Widi Jalo assured that her ministry will partner with donor agencies in order to revive solar energy projects in the state.
She said further that, her ministry will soon embark on enlightenment of rural people on the importance of maintenance culture .
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