Barely a week after WikkiTimes reported how residents of Dutsen Kura Gwari, Minna Niger State relied on a contaminated pit for water, a philanthropist has constructed a portable water source for the community.
The philanthropist who wished not to be named said the intervention was in memory of his late mother.
WikkiTimes had reported that the water-strapped community is just a few kilometres away from the Niger State Government House. While the community suffered from the government’s neglect, some youths resorted to crowdfunding.
READ: This Niger Community Leads to Govt House, but It Depends on Contaminated Pit for Water
The fundraising campaign which was tagged ‘Community Initiative Development’ was spearheaded by Abdulkarim Salisu, a resident of the area.
According to him, an individual who did not want to be named “donated N115,000 in his late mother’s name.” Also, some other persons donated N10,00o, he added.
One of the youths in the area, Khalid as simply identified, extolled the committee set up to achieve the goal. He also appreciated the donors.
However, Salihu told WikkiTimes that the committee will pay N20,100 to the state’s water board for water installation and will be paying a monthly water levy of N2,000 — the government that failed to provide them with water.
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“The last time governor Abubakar Sani Bello gave a directive for the expansion and rehabilitation of the water pipeline to some affected communities, the rehabilitation took place,” Mohammed Mohammed, spokesman for Niger State Ministry of Water Resources had told WikkiTimes. “We were hoping to commence the expansion which will cover the areas without a pipeline but something came up and the process was put on hold.”
“We are aware of the community you are talking about, but God willing next year, before the end of the present administration, if the 2023 proposed budget is passed into law at the appropriate time, the community will be the first place in the ministry’s agenda,” he added.
