Buji Local Government Council in Jigawa State has awarded a contract worth over N70 million to convert eight gasoline-powered water pump stations to solar-powered systems, in a bid to enhance access to clean and sustainable drinking water across rural communities.
Speaking shortly after signing the contract in Dutse, the council chairman, Architect Najibullah Falalu Tukur, said the initiative aligns with the council’s ongoing commitment to improve essential services and reduce rural-urban migration.
“This administration is prioritizing social amenities as a means to improve living standards and prevent the migration of rural dwellers to urban areas, which often contributes to rising crime rates,” he stated.
The communities to benefit from the solar conversion project include Unguwar Maina, Gantsa Yamma, Ahoto Gari, Gwadayi, Kafin Madaki, Yayarin Tukur Yamma, Buji Gari Yamma, and Yayarin Chakauri.
In addition to the solar water initiative, the chairman announced that the administrative block of the Local Education Department is undergoing renovation to strengthen educational governance in the council area.
Furthermore, contracts have been awarded for the construction and continuation of drainage systems in Chakwama, Dambazau, Gantsa Makara Huta, Yayarin Tukur, Tijiyo, and Ahoto, as part of the council’s efforts to improve sanitation and flood control.
In a humanitarian gesture, the council has also procured 500 cartons of spaghetti and 600 bags of cement for distribution to victims of recent disasters across the area.
Architect Tukur urged all beneficiaries of the various development projects to take ownership and ensure proper maintenance, emphasizing that sustainable development begins with community responsibility.