*Urges Beneficiaries to Protect and Maintain Public Facilities

By Sam Biodun Ogundipe in London

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commenced the commissioning of micro-projects executed under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, with the inauguration of a motorised borehole in Inipo Community, Obehira District of Okene Local Government Area.

The water project, implemented through the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KSCSDA), is designed to provide potable water to residents of Inipo and neighbouring communities, thereby improving access to clean water and enhancing public health

Represented at the event by the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Adams Adabenege, Governor Ododo said his administration remains committed to improving the living conditions of rural dwellers through the provision of essential infrastructure and social services.

According to him, the state government will continue to implement similar projects across the three senatorial districts to address the needs of underserved communities.

The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to improving the standard of living of our people across Kogi State. This water project is one of several interventions aimed at bringing development closer to the grassroots,” he said

“We will continue to invest in critical sectors such as water supply, healthcare, education, road infrastructure and rural development. Our goal is to ensure that no community is left behind in the development agenda of this administration.”

Adabenege urged residents of Inipo Community to take ownership of the project by ensuring its proper maintenance and protection.

Government will provide facilities, but their sustainability depends on the people.

We therefore urge members of the community to safeguard this project and ensure that it serves both present and future generations,” he added

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager of the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency, Alhaji (Chief) Dauda O. Momoh, explained that the NG-CARES programme is specifically targeted at rural and hard-to-reach communities lacking basic social amenities.

Momoh expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for providing the necessary counterpart funding for the programme and assured residents that more development projects would soon be implemented across rural communities in the state.

“We are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his unwavering support and commitment to community development. His administration has consistently demonstrated a genuine concern for the welfare of ordinary citizens,” he said

We are sincerely grateful to Governor Ododo for this life-changing intervention. Before now, women and children often trekked several kilometres, sometimes at night, just to fetch water. That difficult experience is now behind us.”

Residents who attended the commissioning described the project as a major milestone in the development of Inipo Community and expressed optimism that additional interventions promised by the state government would further transform the area.