D/Kudu, Dutse — Maigatari local government area has spent about N10m on the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply facilities across the area, as part of its efforts to solve the water shortage bedevilling the people of the area.

Chairman of the council, Alhaji Isah Zakar Bosuwa, disclosed this while speaking in his office. He said the decision taken by his administration in curtailing the menace of water scarcity has become imperative considering the significance of water in the lives of communities, adding that before the coming of his regime, people, especially residents of Maigatari town had to trek long distance to search for the commodity.

Bosuwa explained that the effort made by the council in addressing the problem had compelled hundreds of water vendors to migrate to the neighbouring towns to continue with their business, he pointed out that in every nook and cranny of the city, you had access to portable water supply. "It was our first priority when we came into power, because we met all taps dried and boreholes and wells had all become refuse dump", he said.

According to him, "about 12 motorised boreholes in Maigatari town which were connected with electricity are now fully operational, while about 50 taps were also repaired under the council's water initiative rehabilitation. In addition to that, hand pumps were also drilled and submersibles were purchased in bulk, all aimed at supplying portable water to the people of the area.

He further stated that the council has also introduced Trade Facilitating Committee (TFC) with the border security agents to enable youths of the town have access to Niger Republic and transact business, stressing that soft loans would be provided to the youth to encourage them in running of their own businesses.

Other areas attached priority by the council include monthly sanitation exercise, renovation of police station, repairs of police vehicle, supply of grains and fertiliser, UNICEF counter part funding, assistance to patients, support of bursary education, electrification projects, removal and evacuation of drainages among others.