The Managing Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Oludare Odusanya, has inaugurated a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole in Yankifi community, Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State.

Mr Odusanya, while inaugurating the borehole, said the intervention followed reports of a survey that residents of the area travelled long distances to access potable water.

He said, “We decided to provide the community with access to clean water at their doorstep to ease their burden. What began a few months ago as a survey has now become a reality.”

He urged the residents to take full ownership of the facility and ensure proper use, adding that “this borehole is yours. We urge you to protect it and ensure its sustainability for the benefit of the entire community.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Umar Doguwa, commended the foundation for donating the borehole to the community and urged residents to make good use of the facility.

He restated the commitment of the state government to providing potable water across the state.

The Ward Head of Yankifi, Musa Aliyu, said that the intervention would go a long way in addressing the acute water shortage in the area.

He said, “We used to walk long distances to fetch water, which is not even clean, because animals urinate and drank from the same source.’’

The village head also thanked the state government for supporting the project, saying it would alleviate the suffering of the residents.

A resident, Saidu Ali, said the foundation solved a major problem facing the community.

Another resident, Aisha Ismael, said the gesture would go a long way in alleviating their sufferings, expressing appreciation to the foundation and calling on other individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture.

Mr Ismael also appealed to the state government to construct more boreholes in the area.

(NAN)