Life’s most precious liquid has been hard to come by in Niger State for weeks and there is little sign that the worst is over. Residents have been groaning as a result.
Water boreholes have hardly made any difference because there has been no electricity to power them. There has been little or no supply of water from the state water board; when the board does pump water, only about 30 per cent of residents manage to get it.
Even the Mai Ruwa or water vendors, who usually push their trucks about, are hard to come by; when they are seen, their fees are exorbitant.
Members of the state House of Assembly have expressed concern over the development. The legislators urged the state government to do something and provide the people with water. They also asked for the upgrade of the water board.
The call was made following a motion moved by the member representing Bosso Constituency, Hon Madaki Malik Bosso urging the state government to work in improving water supply in the state.
Bosso noted that the supply of adequate water in the state has completely deteriorated adding that a lot of areas have been completely cut off from water supply.
He added that the state water board which is supposed to supply the state with water has been commercialised as private water tankers who buy from the board and sell to residences at exorbitant prices adding that the water board needs a complete overhaul of equipments to meet up with the increasing expansion and populace of the state.
He said, “It is pathetic to see people going up and down searching for water, even the truck pushers are not easily accessible. People hardly get water to drink, cook and bathe.
“Government must make sure that the needs of the citizens are catered for. Water is first before anything. That is what prompted me to bring out the motion. Government have to find a lasting solution to water in the state.”
After deliberation, the Legislators urged the government to direct the water board to engage their water tankers to supply water on regular basis at subsidised rate to people in the state while stressing on the need for the government to extend the ongoing water project in the state to meet up with adequate water supply.