Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari has said that government's target of 60% coverage for rural water supply throughout the country by 2003 was within reach, as now 50% of the rural population had safe water supply. He said this at Okaito while commissioning mechanized boreholes in Kogi and Kwara States under the Senatorial Districts Borehole Water Supply Programme of the Lower River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA). According to him, it was time Nigerians stopped drinking water he called poto-poto water so as to eradicate Guinea-worm, bilharzia and typhoid. However, he stressed, the communities should ensure the return of President Obasanjo for a second term so that he could complete the fulfilment of his pledge of better life for Nigerians. He also inaugurated the new table water of LNRBDA called Basin Water.

Related sites: Ministry of Water Resources, URL: http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/ministries/water.htm

Contact: Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, Ministry of Water Resources, tel.: +234-9-2342376/70

Source: Daily Trust, 24 Jun 2002