Sen. Ali Wakili, representing Bauchi Southern Senatorial District, on Monday said that he had executed more than 14 constituency projects in his constituency in the last two years.
Wakili, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
He said that the projects executed include those in the water, agriculture, poverty alleviation, education, health and ICT sectors.
Wakili said that he had drilled 54 hand-pump boreholes and tube wells in various locations in all the seven local government councils under his constituency.
He added that he had distributed 614 units of Water Pumps and drilled 114 boreholes for the dry season farming in various locations to reduce poverty at the grassroots.
The senator said that the distribution of water pumps and others were aimed at encouraging the farmers to produce more food crops to achieve food security.
Wakili noted that he had provided 10 motorised boreholes and 34 hand-pump boreholes in Bauchi metropolis alone.
He said that some of these boreholes were sunk in churches, mosques schools and other communities.
“I have again assisted them with fertiliser and other farm inputs to complement the venture.
“For the first time in the history of the state, two of my wives purchased and distributed fertiliser and agro-chemicals to 100 women groups to ensure that women boost agriculture and reduce poverty among the rural populace.
“I trained 500 women in skills acquisition such as tailoring, knitting and others as well as assisted them with N10,000 each to set up businesses and it has yielded the desired result. I also shared grinding machines, tricycles (Keke-NAPEP), 16 vehicles, motor cycles and N5 million cash to groups and individuals within the constituency to empower them economically and also assist the sick ones.
“I have also established two ICT centres in Kirfi and Dass Local Government areas of the state to integrate the rural populace into global city,” he said.
On education, he said that he had equipped 34 secondary schools with mobile laboratories that could prepare students for NECO, WAEC and other examinations which he said had started yielding results.
Wakili said that he had in collaboration with Sen. Sabiu Aliyu from Niger, the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna and Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board trained 100 primary school teachers.
He said that he had also given scholarships to some physically challenged persons.
In the health sector, the senator said that he had constructed five healthcare centres in Lere, Tafawa Balewa, Zango, Shongo and Nabordo as well as provided medical treatment to people within the constituency.
He said that he had collaborated with the Nigeria Institution of Transport Technology, (NITT), Zaria, to train 50 youths in Welding and Soldering.
“I am going to empower them with working tools to enable them set up enterprises and fend for their lives,’’ he said.
Wakili added that he had in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Prof. Iya Abubakar Resource Centre, Bauchi, trained and empowered 50 youths on ICT.
“Some of them have set up film editing, computer repairs and ICT programming and installations business,’’ he said.
He said that he had distributed units of 50KVA transformers and stepping down of electrical cables and insulators to some communities in the constituency to augment government’s efforts in providing electricity.(NAN)
