Bauchi State government is to benefit from a $2.2 million set aside by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project under the urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordination Project.
The USAID Mission Director in Nigeria, Mr. Stephen M. Haykins, and the Chief of Party of the WASH Coordination Project, Mr. Timeyin Uwejamomere, stated this in their separate remarks at the project launch in Bauchi.
They said that the project was specifically designed for Bauchi and Kaduna states and it is expected to run for two years.
According to the duo, “Under the arrangement, the project will provide support services on how to boost the urban water supply and technical support to the utilities boards of both states.
The chief of party of the project also said that available statistics revealed that 57million people do not have access to safe drinking water in Nigeria, describing the situation as “disturbing”.
They both commended Bauchi and Kaduna states for their commitment to the project, pledging more support in that direction.
In his address, Governor Mohammad Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State pledged his administration’s commitment and political will to ensure the successful implementation of the project in the state.
Abubakar appreciated USAID for their support to Nigeria and Bauchi State in particular.
He said, “USAID’s support in the areas of capacity building, good governance and system strengthening would go a long way in improving effective and sustainable service delivery and also high performance in governance”.
The governor assured of Bauchi State government’s support and cooperation towards the implementation of WASH Coordination Project in the state.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 500 personnel in Bauchi yesterday participated in the 10 kilometre annual Walk/Jog Exercise organised by the Special Operations of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to boost physical fitness of air officers and men/women.
During the presentation of prizes to the winners in Bauchi, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Vice Marshall Sani Ahmed, said that the exercise was a follow up of events aimed at ensuring that NAF personnel remain physically fit.
He charged the personnel to conduct themselves in the most highly professional manners, saying that it is the hallmark of the military profession.
“I implore us all to discharge our duties with utmost sense of loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The First Quarter Route March which held on March 11, 2017 was first in series of exercises designed to maintain all round physical fitness of our personnel. These efforts are therefore indicative of the premium the NAF places on the physical fitness of NAF personnel.
“Thus in view of the rigours of the military profession, it is imperative that personnel of all ranks are capable of carrying out their duties with uttermost professionalism and regimentation while remaining physically fit to perform their tasks optimally,”he said.
