Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi, has expanded his water intervention in Lokoja Local Government Area with the construction of seven industrial boreholes across the state capital.
The latest initiative followed a commitment made by the senator during his visit to the palace of the Maigari of Lokoja on August 24, ahead of the town hall meeting organised for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency.
Karimi had initially pledged to facilitate the construction of five industrial boreholes to address the persistent water shortage confronting residents of Lokoja. However, the number of projects has now increased to seven.
Speaking on the initiative, the senator expressed concern over the acute water shortage in the state capital, noting that he had earlier taken steps to provide water tankers to residents during the Ramadan period.
He explained that the decision to provide the industrial boreholes was part of his efforts to complement existing interventions and improve access to potable water in communities across Lokoja.
According to him, the projects are being funded by a federal government agency under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The senator also explained that the industrial boreholes are designed to provide a more substantial water supply compared with the solar-powered boreholes previously provided under his intervention programme.
Construction work on the projects reportedly commenced within five days of the senator’s announcement, with the number eventually increased from the initially proposed five to seven boreholes.
The development adds to the 22 solar-powered motorised boreholes already completed in Lokoja Local Government Area through the senator’s intervention.
The new projects are expected to provide relief to communities affected by inadequate access to water and reduce the difficulties residents face in sourcing the essential commodity.
Karimi, while reaffirming his commitment to attracting more federal projects to Kogi West, said his priority remained the improvement of living conditions and the provision of infrastructure capable of positively impacting the people.
He also urged residents of Kogi West to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections, saying continuity would help sustain ongoing development efforts.