For years, residents of Gegu-Beki and neighbouring Gegu-Egba in Kogi State lived without consistent access to clean water, depending on distant or contaminated sources for survival. That hardship eased last week with the commissioning of a solar-powered borehole by Trucrete Solutions Limited, through its corporate social responsibility vehicle, Tru Empowerment Foundation.

The project, designed to serve both communities, is a deliberate step towards fulfilling Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all.

Commissioned on-site in Gegu-Beki, the facility is powered entirely by solar energy and operates independently of the national grid, offering a sustainable water source to households that have long suffered the burden of water scarcity.

The atmosphere during the handover was emotional. “I am sure that most of our brothers, mother, children, and others surrounding this area will be praying for Trucrete,” said one community member during the ceremony. “We don’t know any successes coming the way of this company, but for what they have done here, we pray the Federal Government awards them another contract in another state or local government.”

Another resident, speaking on behalf of the traditional leadership, added, “Thank you for the great job. As you all know, water is life. Whosoever provides water, provides life. Our community is happy with Trucrete for providing this portable borehole for this community.”

For many households in the area, the lack of electricity and functional infrastructure had made accessing water a daily struggle. “We appreciate your presence, and we really appreciate you for what you have done,” said another resident. “As you can all see, we do not have light and for us to fetch water is very difficult, but with the aid of this, it will make it much easier.”

The project was officially unveiled by Franco Rizzo, Project Director at Trucrete, who delivered remarks on behalf of the company’s Managing Director, Abdul-Jelil Hassan. Rizzo noted that the borehole represents a milestone in Trucrete’s broader plan to invest in community development where the company operates. “This project reflects our dedication to enhancing the well-being of host communities,” Rizzo said. “We’re proud to begin our CSR journey here and look forward to future opportunities to uplift lives.”

According to UNICEF, only 29 per cent of the population in Nigeria have access to safely managed drinking water services. In rural areas like Gegu-Egba, the situation is worse, with millions depending on unsafe sources exposed to faecal contamination and environmental waste.

The new borehole marks Trucrete’s first water-focused CSR intervention in Kogi State, and the company has signalled interest in expanding its support to other underserved regions.

For the people of Gegu-Egba, the impact is already clear. The taps are running, and for the first time in a long time, clean water is within reach.