The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated three solar-powered borehole projects in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State to improve access to potable water and promote community development.
The projects, located at Gaya UMC, Kofar Gabari and Alawa communities, were executed under the Chief of Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Projects Scheme in honour of retired Rear Admiral Aliyu Ahmad-Gaya.
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Inaugurating the projects in Gaya on Saturday, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the intervention reflected the Navy’s commitment to initiatives that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.
The Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba, represented the Chief of Naval Staff at the occasion.
Vice Admiral Abbas said the facilities comprised 11-metre-high water towers, 52,000-litre water storage tanks, control rooms and guard rooms.
He explained that national security went beyond protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and maritime interests to ensuring that communities had access to basic necessities.
The Chief of Naval Staff said access to safe and reliable water was fundamental to human wellbeing and socio-economic development, as it contributes to improved public health, sanitation, education and household activities.
He commended Rear Admiral Ahmad-Gaya for identifying the water needs of his community and utilising the Navy’s intervention scheme to secure the projects.
According to him, the intervention demonstrated that leadership becomes meaningful when it translates into tangible benefits for citizens and communities.
Vice Admiral Abbas reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to civil-military cooperation and initiatives capable of contributing to national development, peace and social cohesion.
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He said although the Navy’s primary mandate remained the protection of Nigeria’s maritime interests and national security, the service would continue to support projects that positively impacted communities.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Ahmad-Gaya said access to potable water was fundamental to human dignity, public health and community development.
He described the boreholes as practical interventions designed to reduce the hardship residents faced in accessing water for domestic and other essential needs.
Ahmad-Gaya said the projects also demonstrated the importance the Nigerian Navy attached to strengthening its relationship with civil communities, stressing that national security could not be achieved through military operations alone.
He noted that positive military interventions in communities could build goodwill, confidence and stronger partnerships between the armed forces and citizens.
The retired naval officer added that the solar-powered facilities would reduce dependence on electricity and keep operational costs relatively low.
He urged the Gaya Local Government Council and residents to take ownership of the facilities, protect them from vandalism and ensure their proper maintenance.
Ahmad-Gaya expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government, Gaya Local Government Authority, Gaya Emirate Council and other stakeholders for their support.
The Emir of Gaya, Dr Aliyu Abdulkadir, represented by the Dan Galadiman Gaya, Alhaji Abdullahi Nayaya, commended Ahmad-Gaya for the intervention, describing him as a “son of the soil”.
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He said the projects would significantly improve the lives of residents, particularly in communities that had experienced longstanding challenges in accessing hygienic water.