Community Upset Over Broken Solar Borehole in Nasarawa

Residents of a Nasarawa State community are worried about a solar-powered borehole that stopped working just a month after it was installed. The borehole is part of a Federal Government project aimed at providing clean water.

The people from Kufan Gwani Bakin Ayini in Kokona Local Government Area say the borehole only worked for a short time before it failed to supply water. This has left the community without a reliable water source.

The project is managed by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, known as N-HYPPADEC. Mohammed Haruna, a local resident, mentioned that the borehole has not been functional since the contractor completed the work.

"The project is yet to be fully operational seven months after completion," Mr Haruna said. He believes the breakdown is due to poor quality materials used in the construction of the borehole.

Mr Haruna claimed that the community brought in experts to look at the borehole. They found problems with the solar panels and the engine. He said, "We invited experts and they complained that the solar panels and the engine are not enough to power the project."

He is calling on the Federal Government and N-HYPPADEC to quickly fix the borehole and restore water supply to their community. N-HYPPADEC is a Federal Government agency that works to develop areas that host power generation facilities in Nigeria.

Attempts to reach Muhammad Maidunama, who heads the N-HYPPADEC office in Nasarawa State, for his response to these claims were unsuccessful. He could not be contacted by phone.