Gov AbdulRazaq Takes Steps To Enhance Public Infrastructure Maintenance In Kwara, Launches KWA-TRECO In Ilorin

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  of Kwara state has launched a programme to train community folks on proper handling of public facilities in the state for efficiency, long lifespan, and prudence. 

Launching the Kwara Training, Repair, Empowerment and Community Ownership (KWA-TRECO 1.0) in Ilorin on Thursday, the governor said the initiative will train people across communities and instill the culture of maintaining public infrastructure in them. 

 A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye noted that the scheme will also encourage communities to take ownership of public-funded projects in their areas.

KWATRECO is domiciled in the office of the  governor’s Senior Special Assistant  on Community Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe. 

‘KWA-TRECO 1.0. focuses on training our youths on how to fix boreholes in our rural communities and boost access to potable water, which UNICEF has  put at 74%. 

Those picked for this initiative will be trained by professionals and  would be given tools that they require for the work. This is all paid for by the government.

The essence is to improve access to drinkable water, reduce waterborne diseases, boost our health indices, give useful skills to our young people, and reduce unemployment and poverty in the state. 

KWA-TRECO is designed to gradually identify, select, and fix these public amenities as well as empower Kwara youths through productive engagements’ the governor submitted during the flag off ceremony on Thursday.

Governor AbdulRazaq also called on development partners to support his administration’s drive for sustainable solutions to the challenge of bad public infrastructure, access to water, unemployment, poverty and hunger, and other key challenges highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

He congratulated all the trainees, and urged them to make the best use of the opportunity to learn new skills and contribute to the development of their communities.

At the event were the Commissioner for Water Resources Usman Yunusa-Lade; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development ,Abdullahi Abubakar Bata; Commissioner for Environment , Shehu Ndanusa Usman; ALGON Chairman, Hon. Jide Asonibare, and other TIC Chairmen; acting General Manager of Kwara State Social Investment programme (KWASSIP) Dr. Abdul Wasiu Tejidini; former Commissioner for Water Resources , Femi Wahab Agbaje;  UNICEF representative for Kwara, Bolaji Abdulkadir Adebayo among other dignitaries.

Lade and Bata, in their separate remarks, said the initiative will reduce the burden of managing public facilities on the government especially in respect of rehabilitation and maintenance of boreholes. 

Water Resources commissioner particularly noted that it has been discovered that most rural communities with poor access to water actually have hand-held boreholes which have become dysfunctional and only require minor repairs. 

 Also speaking, Dr Olohungbebe  said the initiative will reduce a culture of people running back to government for rehabilitation of faulty public facilities in their domains rather than taking ownership and managing them themselves.

‘Over the years, we have noticed that a lot of infrastructure will be there and the moment anything happens to them, people will run back to the government to come and fix it for them. His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is  however of the view that this is not sustainable.

This is one of the reasons for this initiative and at least 200 people are to benefit from the training and empowerment under KWATRECO 1.0′ he said.

The UNICEF representative lauded the governor for the project and his commitment to paying counterpart funds for WASH and other programmes of immense benefits to the people-Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you