…Gombe L-PRES Coordinator Urges Communities to Take Ownership, Safeguard Facility

 

Hope now flows freely in the Tudun Wada/Bundu Wailaru area of Gombe metropolis, thanks to a solar-powered borehole provided under the Gombe State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project.

 

For residents who once endured water scarcity, the steady supply of clean water now represents more than convenience – it is a symbol of inclusive governance and meaningful development.

 

The community’s appreciation was voiced in a heartfelt visit to the Gombe State L-PRES office, where community leaders led by Alhaji Yaya Mohammad (Sarkin Fadan Funakaye) , and accompanied by Alhaji Babaji Loddo and other respectable elders and members of the community, expressed their gratitude to the State Project Coordinator, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar.

 

The leaders commended the government’s decision to appoint a technocrat with grassroots passion and praised the project’s growing impact on underserved communities.

 

“We came to appreciate this timely and life-changing intervention. Professor Abubakar has not only demonstrated expertise but also a deep understanding of our needs as a people”, Alhaji Mohammad said.

 

Responding, Prof. U. B. Abubakar underscored the importance of community responsibility in sustaining government investments. He urged residents to protect the borehole from misuse and vandalism, emphasizing that good maintenance is key to long-term benefits.

 

“These facilities are not just structures-they are lifelines. Their sustainability depends on collective ownership and proper use”, he said.

The state coordinator also reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya-led administration to equitably delivering development to all parts of the state, especially rural and livestock-dependent communities.

 

Since its full rollout in late 2023, Gombe L-PRES has drilled over 60 solar-powered boreholes across livestock corridors, rehabilitated key livestock markets and abattoirs, and embarked redemarcation of stock routes and grazing reserves with the aim of reducing farmer-herder conflicts among other interventions.

 

“These water projects help reduce the seasonal migration of livestock in search of water – a known cause of conflicts between farmers and herders,” Prof. Abubakar explained. “By stabilizing livestock movements, we’re also contributing to peace building.”

 

He revealed that beyond rural interventions, the state has also signed a multi-billion Naira contract for the construction of a state-of-the-art abattoir in the State Capital. Once completed, the facility will enhance meat processing, improve food safety, and create jobs, particularly for youth and women.

The delegation pledged continued support for the administration’s programs, describing Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s agricultural and livestock reforms as both visionary and people-oriented.

 

The joy seen in Tudun Wada is a testament to how targeted, well-executed public projects can transform communities and rekindle trust in government. And for Prof. Abubakar and his team, it is further motivation to keep pushing the boundaries of livestock transformation across Gombe State.