Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has assured that the state government would soon write to remind President Muhammadu Buhari about the Federal Government’s earlier pledge to relocate the Bauchi Central Prison to an outskirt, far from the heart of the township.
The governor made the assurance while responding to a request for the prison relocation by the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu when he paid homage to Government House on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
The Bauchi Central Prison which was just few meters away from the Emir’s Palace had in 2010 suffered a setback following a jail break by members of the dreaded Boko Haram that freed some of their members earlier put behind bars as a result of their up-rising.
“I want to assure the people that Bauchi State government will soon officially write a letter which I will personally take to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to relocate the Bauchi Central Prison as earlier pledged by the Federal Government”, the governor said.
Abubakar said that he would also remind the Presidency about the dilapidated Bauchi-Gombe road for its rehabilitation.
Abubakar further assured that the state government was poised to improve water supply both in Bauchi metropolis and local government areas of the state.
According to him, the government in collaboration with the World Bank will boost water supply in the state capital through the rehabilitation and capacity up-grading of Gubi dam, as well as improving the water supply system generally to provide 25 million gallons of water daily as against the envisaged 15 million gallons this year.
He explained that for the improved water supply in the rural areas, the state government’s agency, ‘RUWASA’, in collaboration with UNICEF has mapped out plans to sink 300 motorized boreholes in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, and the construction of hundreds of toilets to curb open defecation by some citizens.
Abubakar called on the people of Bauchi to continue pray for the growth and development of the state rather than castigating leaders unnecessarily.
Besides, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, had urged the governor to request President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the provision of modern prisons in the state.
He also urged the governor to facilitate the President to consider awarding the reconstruction of Bauchi- Gombe federal highway road to ease transportation problem as well as to reduce the number of accidents in the road considering its present deplorable condition.
The Emir pointed out that the state was facing economic challenges but called on the governor to address the problem of water shortage in the metropolis and the state in general.