The Gombe State Government is set to construct 661 solar-powered boreholes across the 11 local government areas of the state.

Alhaji Abdurraqib Muhammad, General Manager, Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Gombe.

Muhammad said the government initiated the project after the agency conducted a need assessment and discovered that the pressing need of the communities was water.

According to him, the state government had secured a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and that the work would soon begin on the project.

He said that the administration of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya “is determined to provide portable drinking water to the entire state because it is the most essential component of life and vital for sustenance’’.

According to him, apart from the boreholes, other basic amenities like pit latrines, schools, and health facilities, would be provided across the state.

He said the construction of pit latrines was necessary in order to discourage open defecation which is common among the populace.

Muhammad said open defecation had a negative effect on public health and socio-economic development of the state.

He called on residents to take responsibility for enhancing their hygiene and overall health.

He added that the government was determined to ensure the sustainability of water sanitation and hygiene across the state