The Enugu State Government said it sank 43 boreholes in the fourth quarter of 2023 under Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, NG-Cares to improve water supply in rural communities.
The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Nathaniel Uramah, disclosed this at a news briefing in Enugu on Wednesday.
The NG-CARES is a Federal Government’s national programme aimed at supporting states to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uramah said that the boreholes formed part of the State Government’s efforts to provide clean, safe and portable drinking water in rural communities.
He listed the benefitting communities to include Owo in Nkanu East, Obeagu Awkunanaw in Enugu South Federated Oboffia in Nkanu West, Ameke Oduma in Aninri, Abia in Udi and Adu Achi Local Government Areas.
Others are Awha Imezi in Ezeagu, Amadim Ogbozalla Opi in Nsukka, Aji in Igboeze North, Abulegwu Likke Iheaka in Igboeze South and Ukpabi in Uzo Uwani, amongst others.
He opined that the boreholes would help improve access to clean water, promote the overall health and wellbeing of the population and reduce the rate of outbreak of waterborne diseases in the state.
He further said that Gov. Peter Mbah had directed that the next phase of the programme would be the rehabilitation of non-functional boreholes as well as drilling of new ones in communities that did not have.
“Through the support of the NG-CARES initiative, the State Government has successfully and timeously completed boreholes in Enugu communities.
“This serves as an indication of government’s commitment towwrd improving the welfare of its people through the execution of sustainable development projects,” Uramah said.
He further said that apart from the provision of clean water, the boreholes would help to create jobs for the residents of the benefitting communities as well as stimulate their economic activities.
“It will also help in boosting the economy from the targeted $4.4 billion to $30 billion and also improve the standard of living of the communities,” he said.
Uramah said that the project would be extended to other communities in continuation of the State Government’s programme, in collaboration with NG-CARES.
