By Lawal Dogara, Kaduna

Kaduna State Government in collaboration with the 23 local government councils have set aside the sum of over N3.4 billion for rural electrification, roads and schools, Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has disclosed.

Governor Sambo made the disclosure recently while commissioning solar-powered energy system in Janwuriya village under Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the joint projects, which would be carried out in all the local government areas would help greatly in improving the quality of life of the people.

He said the Janwuriya project which is the first to be commissioned in the state was part of his administration’s commitment to bring development to the urban and rural communities.

Governor Sambo explained that the solar-powered energy system was adopted by the state government as a means of curbing vandalisation and also to provide more communities with electricity, saying 12 villages have been selected to benefit.

He therefore urged all benefiting communities to ensure that they use the amenities effectively and protect them from vandalisation.

He said the state government would construct and the road linking the village to make it more accessible and enable the people to have access to other parts of the state.

He also directed that the clinic under construction in the village be listed among those to be provided free medical services to pregnant women and children under five years.

In his speech, the permanent secretary, Kaduna State ministry of agriculture, Mr. Joseph Maigari, said the solar-powered energy system, which enjoys technical participation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), is jointly financed by Kaduna State Fadama II development project, the state and federal governments and the host community.

He said although only ten local government areas were in Fadama II, its success was being felt throughout the state.

Mr. Maigari said the Federal Government and the World Bank have approved the implementation of Fadama III, which would start before the year runs out, saying all the 23 local government areas in the state would benefit from the project if it becomes operational.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the chairman of Kajuru Local Government Council, Mr. Patrick Maigari, said with the commissioning of the Janwuriya project, was evident that the state government was determined to provide reliable, cheap and affordable source of energy for rural communities in the state, thus fulfilling one of the 11-point agenda of the administration.