The Nigerian Navy on Thursday commissioned seven boreholes across seven communities in Iseyin, Oyo State, as part of its civil-military cooperation initiative to address water scarcity.
The benefiting communities are:
- Ayedun
- Igboleya
- Ilado
- Ita Epo
- Molete
- Okeola
- Osoogun
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, represented by Rear Admiral Monday Unuohiere, stated:
“The project was executed under the Special Intervention Quick Impact scheme of the Nigerian Navy… It was Nigerian Navy way of contributing to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Ogalla explained:
“Under this scheme, accomplished serving Navy Officer like the Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Navy, Real Admiral Olushola Oluwagbire, a noble son of Iseyin, was given opportunity to reach his people. The project is in addition to the Nigerian Navy way of securing lives and securing our national heritage.”
Project facilitator Rear Admiral Oluwagbire revealed:
“When the opportunity of the project presented itself I approached the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola, who identified scarcity of water as the major problem confronting the people of the affected communities.”
He highlighted specific community challenges:
“Out of the seven communities is a community called Igboleya, where cattle and the people of the community drink from the same water. This borehole is the first industrial borehole in that community.”
“A visit to Osoogun, also one of the beneficiary communities and the birth place of Bishop Ajayi Crowder, the translator of The Holy Bible to Yoruba Language, has one borehole serving the whole community.”
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola, and House of Representatives member Hon. Oyedeji Oyeshina appealed for proper maintenance of the facilities, with the monarch urging:
“Those in positions of authority to emulate the facilitator by giving back to their communities.”
The Navy emphasized that the intervention aligns with its dual mandate of national security and community development, while urging beneficiaries to take ownership of the projects.
