The agency noted that nine States may be affected by the recent release of water from the dam which is expected to last till the end of this month.
This was disclosed on Saturday evening by the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed while giving an update on the release of water from Lagdo Dam and consequential flooding of communities along the banks of River Benue.
The States that may be affected are; Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States.
Ahmed said the recent release has led to the displacement of communities and could lead to the destruction of crops and other infrastructure.
The DG said: “NEMA has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riparian communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours.
“The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of waters from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities.
“Furthermore, croplands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters.
“Situation reports from Adamawa State confirm the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue.
“The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.”
The Agency cautioned authorities of State and Local Governments along rivers Niger and Benue basin areas to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that will arise due to the flooding of communities.
NEMA promised to give further updates as it expects to receive updates from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), NIMET, NEMA Operations Office in Yola Adamawa state, and from State Emergency Agencies of the frontline states.
On the number of those that have been affected so far by flood this year, he said: “The NEMA situation room dashboard indicates that this year’s flood scenario has affected 159,157 persons, resulted in the loss of 28 persons and the displacement of 48,168 individuals in 13 States across Nigeria.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun distribution of relief materials to 18, 904 households affected by flood in Anambra State.
Director General Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed made this known in Awka during the distribution of the special national economic and livelihood emergency intervention to 2022 flood victims and vulnerable persons.
Ahmed, represented by the Assistant Director, Mr. Olusegun Afolayan, said the intervention was to cushion the devastation and economic hardship occasioned by the deluge and fuel subsidy removal.
He listed the items distributed to include sewing machines, grinding machines, water pump machines, stove, pots, mattresses, mosquito nets, mats, soap, buckets and blankets.
Others are herbicides, pesticides, growth enhancer, fertiliser, yam, rice, beans, maize seedlings, salt, garri, sachets of tomato pastes, vegetable oil and seasoning cubes.
Ahmed said: “The 2022 flood disaster devastated many communities across the country, including Anambra State.
“After the flood, damage and loss assessment were conducted and relief items were approved for 18,904 households in Anambra.
“The assessment was done in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency, hence, the distribution of the relief items to support the victims’ quick return to normalcy.”
Advising on judicious use of the items, the NEMA boss warned against selling the non-food items, which he said the beneficiaries were expected to continue their livelihood with.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo thanked the Federal Government for assisting the state, regretting that the effect of the flood disaster was beyond the state government.
Soludo, represented by his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, restated his administration commitment to supporting programmes targeted at alleviating the socio-economic hardship of the people.
He said the flood affected health, education and economic sectors as well as the livelihood of residents.
“In preparation for this year’s flooding, the holding camps are already activated and people in the riverine areas will soon be moving in as the water level continues to rise this year,” he said.
SEMA Executive Secretary Chief Paul Odenigbo said the beneficiaries were drawn from 10 local governments affected by the flood.
Lagos traditional ruler, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has tasked the newly inaugurated commissioners to promptly tour communities within the state and assess urgent intervention needs.
He stated that by doing so, the newly appointed officials would gain insight into the concerns of state residents, particularly in the realms of flooding, education, and health, enabling them to address the identified challenges effectively.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had charged the newly sworn in new 38 commissioners and special advisers to reflect excellence in the discharge of their duties and prepare for the challenges ahead towards achieving a bigger Lagos rising.
The governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had charged the recently inaugurated 38 commissioners and special advisers to reflect excellence in their roles and be ready for the challenges ahead in the pursuit of propelling Lagos towards greater heights.
Addressing the newly appointed officials, Kalejaiye noted that numerous communities, residences, and businesses within the state grapple with either flooding, deteriorating infrastructure, or inadequate public health facilities, significantly impacting the quality of life for the residents.
He said: “There are huge tasks ahead of the newly appointed commissioners towards achieving a greater Lagos rising. Lagosians are eagerly yearning to have a feel of the greater Lagos rising promised by the State governor.
“We have seen how flood submerged homes and businesses across major markets and roads in the state. We have also witnessed how floods swept through homes located along riverine communities.
“For instance, in my community, we want the Ministry of Environment to dredge the Otto Creek that is located between Otumara and Otto community in Lagos Mainland and create an outlet for the free flow of water to save residents from periodic flooding.
“This is why I said this is no time for any Commissioner to sit in his/her office and be delegating authority and giving out instructions. As they settle down in their various offices, they need to visit areas and sectors that fall in their jurisdiction to see for themselves what the issues are and how best they can be tackled.
He further stated: “For instance, the commissioner for environment needs to visit areas that are the worst hit by the flood. Also, the Health Commissioner has to make an assessment tour of communities affected by this flood to check the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
“In Education, Lagosians cannot afford the standard that has been set by the State governor to be lowered. This is why the new commissioner must pay adequate attention and visit both private and public schools to maintain the Lagos standard.
“And importantly, all pipeline projects should be seen to be executed by the new administration. We want the commissioner to visit us in our community to have a feel of how our children are faring without the senior secondary school.”
Residents and rescue workers in the devastated Libyan city of Derna are struggling to cope with the thousands of corpses washing up or decaying under rubble.
This is happening after a flood that smashed down buildings and swept people to sea.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other aid groups urged authorities in Libya to stop burying flood victims in mass graves, saying these could bring long-term mental distress to families or cause health risks if located near water.
A UN report said more than 1,000 people had so far been buried in that manner since Libya, a nation divided by a decade of conflict and political chaos, was hit on Sunday by torrential rain that caused two dams to burst.
Thousands were killed and thousands more are missing.
“Bodies are littering the streets, washing back on shore, and are buried under collapsed buildings and debris.
“In just two hours, one of my colleagues counted over 200 bodies on the beach near Derna,” Bilal Sablouh, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) forensics manager for Africa, told a briefing in Geneva.
Ibrahim al-Arabi, health minister in Libya’s Tripoli-based western government, told Reuters he was certain groundwater was polluted with water mixed up with corpses, dead animals, refuse, and chemical substances.
“We urge people not to approach the wells in Derna,” he said.
Mohammad al-Qabisi, head of Derna’s Wahda Hospital, said a field hospital was treating people with chronic illnesses needing regular attention.
He said there were fears waterborne diseases would spread, but no cholera had been recorded so far.
Swathes of Derna, centrepoint of the destruction in Libya’s east, were obliterated when the dams above the city broke, and the flood that swept down a usually dry riverbed brought down whole residential blocks while families were asleep.
The International Organization for Migration mission in Libya said more than 5,000 people were presumed dead, with 3,922 deaths registered in hospitals, and over 38,640 were displaced in the flood-stricken region.
The true death toll could be far higher, officials say.
“We should be afraid of an epidemic,” 60-year-old Nouri Mohamed said, at a bakery offering loaves for free. “There are still bodies underground … Now there are corpses starting to smell.”
The U.N. health agency together with the ICRC and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called for burials to be managed better.
“We urge authorities in communities touched by tragedy to not rush forward with mass burials or mass cremations,” Kazunobu Kojima, medical officer for biosafety and biosecurity in the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said in the statement.
It called for individual graves, demarcated and documented, saying that hasty interments could lead to mental anguish for families as well as social and legal problems.
The bodies of victims of trauma from natural disasters “almost never” posed a health threat, it said, unless they were in or near fresh water supplies since corpses may leak excrement.
A doctor in Derna said this week that photos were being taken of unidentified bodies before burial, in case relatives could identify them later on.
Thursday’s UN report said more than 1,000 bodies in Derna and over 100 in Al Bayda, another coastal city hit by flooding, had been buried in mass graves.
The Norwegian Refugee Council, which has a team of 100 in Libya, said dead body management was the most pressing concern.
“I’ve heard from my team that there are mass graves where rescue workers were appealing: ‘Don’t bring us food, don’t bring us water, bring us body bags’,” the NRC’s Ahmed Bayram said.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, has said that state governments are becoming more proactive in their response to disaster issues in the country.
Ahmed said this on Saturday at the end of a four-day workshop organised for staff of the agency and staff of various State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in Abuja.
The workshop with the theme: “Disaster Management and Preparedness Institutional Capacity Strengthening” was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA).
The workshop had the support of UNICEF, International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent (IFRC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The D-G said that the decision by the state governments to send their representatives for the workshop showed that they were more resolved in tackling disasters at the grassroots and sub-national levels.
He said that the decision to bring together staff of NEMA and SEMAs for the workshop was deliberate as the agency was committed to fostering cooperation, collaboration, experience sharing and enhanced collaboration between the federal and state agencies.
According to him, building capacities of the disaster management staff is a critical component for effective and efficient disaster management.
“In NEMA, we are looking beyond the present and working towards building a more robust system of disaster management where all relevant stakeholders are not only aware but also prepared to carry out their roles.
“This informs the wide range of collaboration and partnership engaged by the agency in the delivery of its mandates,” he said.
The director-general, who appreciated UN-OCHA and other stakeholders for collaborating with the agency for the training, urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained towards improving services in their various states.
Mr Trond Jensen, Head of UN-OCHA office, represented by Mr Ibrahima Barry, Head of Government Liaison Unit, assured of its readiness to continue collaborating with NEMA to effectively discharge its mandates.
“Our role in the humanitarian sector is to support government efforts and we in UN-OCHA will continue to reinforce our collaboration with NEMA.
“One thing we will also do is to create a communication network so that we can keep in touch and get updated when there is an emergency situation,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Hopewell Munyari, Operations Manager, IFRC, said it was important to have continuous collaborations with relevant stakeholders in disaster response in the country.
Secretary of the Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mr. Felix Edemanya said: “We have already told and alerted the people to take precautionary measures so that they will not be cut off by the flood.
“They should safeguard their valuables and move out. Now that it has happened, they should move to a safer haven because the council will not want to lose anybody as a result of negligence.”
Students of Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration over ravaging flood in the institution.
The protesters lamented that academic and non-academic activities had been paralysed.
Addressing reporters ahead of the protest, President, Student Union Government, Chigozie Onyenyili, said students had been subjected to sleepless nights, as hostels had been overrun, with their property destroyed by the flood.
He said the situation was worsened by destruction of drainage by contractors working in the institution.
Said he: “Flooding has been an issue in the institution, but it was worsened because the government recently began flood control process by removing drainage inside the school, without providing alternative measures to mitigate the flood.
“They commenced flood control during the rainy season, but now, they have abandoned the work and as we speak, the institution is flooded.
“We are embarking on this peaceful demonstration to draw government’s attention to our plight. The school has done its best, but we need government to return to the work they abandoned.
“The two machines government brought for the job are not working and there is need for them to bring in more personnel to begin the work so that normalcy will return at the institution.”
Public Relations Officer of the institution, Owoh Ugochukwu, confirmed the incident, attributing it to government negligence.
He said: “The state government channelled waters that come from Obosi, Nkpor and Onitsha-Owerri Road and their environs, down to the school, without providing measures for enough drainage.
“The flood issue has lingered for some years now, and the school authorities have been doing their best, but currently work has been abandoned and there is no alternative measure in place.”
About 5,000 were feared dead and around 10,000 missing after massive floods ravaged parts of eastern Libya.
Major parts of the city of Derna — home to approximately 100,000 people — were swept away on Sunday after Storm Daniel, an extremely deadly Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, collapsed two dams.
The dams were said to have submerged many buildings in the area while drowning some residents.
A seafront bridge was also washed away as tonnes of water rushed to the sea.
Authorities labelled the area a “disaster city”.
Yesterday, Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation in Libya, said the death toll was likely to increase.
“We can confirm from our independent sources of information that the number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far,” Ramadan said.
“The death toll is huge and might reach thousands.”
Ramadan said IFRC could soon launch an appeal for emergency funding to support Libya’s flood victims, listing the challenges as “ranging between access to basic health facilities for health services, shelter and shelter management, food and non-food items”.
The IFRC head said the aid organisation had the support of both rival governments in Benghazi and Tripoli.
“The government in Tripoli will be sending medical assistance and medical convoys to the east to support in rescuing the affected population,” Ramadan added.
Meanwhile, countries have sent their condolences and begun to rollout aid for the North African country.
On Monday, a plane carrying search and rescue teams and survival supplies arrived from Turkey.
“We continue to deliver search and rescue teams and aid materials to Libya, a friendly and brotherly country,” the Turkish defence ministry said.
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also pledged to send search and rescue teams, while neighbouring Algeria and Egypt sent condolences in the aftermath of the disaster.
Citing increased risk of flooding and its deadly consequences, governments of Lagos and Nasarawa yesterday urged those living in their coastal communities to relocate immediately.
Some residents in threatened Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, urged the federal and state governments to come to their rescue.
The warning was given following the advice from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Meteorological Services (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA).
The agencies were put on notice by the Foreign Affairs Ministry after a note verbal from Cameroonian government that Lagdo Dam water will be released.
There is also a warning of water release by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority.
Lagos State Ministry of Environment asked residents on the bank of Ogun River to quit immediately.
“This follows an updated 2023 Water Releases Forecast for Flood Control by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, effective September, and the high rainfall being experienced as predicted,” the ministry’s Permanent Secretary in the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Lekan Shodeinde said yesterday.
A statement by ministry spokesman, Kunle Adeshina, listed 17 flood-prone communities that must be immediately vacated as: Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Maidan and Lekki-Ajah axis.
According to the permanent secretary, who urged residents of the listed areas to move upland, “the state is concerned about the safety of lives and property”. Shodeinde explained that much water will be released this month in addition to the heavy downpour expected from now till December.
According to the updated 2023 Water Releases Forecast, signed by Managing Director of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, Olufemi Odumosu, the comparative total amount of rainfall recorded from January to August 2023 (1,128.6mm) is higher than that of January to August in 2021 (713.4mm) and 2022 (848.1mm).
Shodeinde said: “Comparatively, 968.6mm was recorded as amount of rainfall for 2021, 1,140 mm for 2022, while in the first eight months of 2023, a quantum of 1,128.6mm has already been recorded, which means when the remaining four months is factored in, a very high intensity of rainfall would be recorded for the whole year.
“When some of the other figures released by the Ogun- Osun River Basin Authority is further scrutinised for volume of water spilled, it shows 1,102mcm was spilled in 2021 and 1,475.6 mcm in 2022, while for the first eight months of this year, 1,393.1mcm has already been spilled by the River Basin authority. This means that more water will be released when factored with the remaining four months in 2023.”
The permanent secretary noted that the water levels of all tributaries, including the Oyan Dam, are rising and is one of the contributory factors to the possibility of the likely flooding at downstream flow of Ogun River.
He stressed that the same applies to all the channels and tributaries that discharges into the lagoon, which may experience tidal lock and flow back because of the high water level that prevent discharges, leading to flash flooding.
He said: “Since Oyan River is one of the major tributaries to Ogun River, it is expected that other tributaries will also contribute much to the likely flood downstream flow of Ogun River In mitigating the flood this year, the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority.
“As at the end of end of August, the Ogun-Osun River Basin has increased its daily releases to 21.4 million cubic meters (mcm) Volume of Water to create more space in order to regulate the expected inflow of water from the Catchment Upstream in September. Water releases might rise to average of 22.0 – 24.0mcm per day, this amount of water that will be released shall depend on rate at which water flows into the reservoir and the height measured in the reservoir.”
He, however, said that Lagos has nothing to fear from the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun to Benue River.
Shodeinde said that only 11 states – Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River – will be affected by the releases. “There is obviously no connection between the Lagdo Dam releases and operations of Oyan Dam and the water releases Forecast for Flood Control in Lagos and Ogun State,” the official said.
In Nasarawa, Governor Abdullahi Sule told those living on river banks to relocate as precaution against the predicted flooding, noting that the state has been listed as one of the endangered areas.
The governor assured that his administration will support victims of the rainstorm that destroyed government and private buildings in Nasarawa Local Government Area.
Sule gave the assurance during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected structures. He was represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe.
The lawmaker representing the Nasarawa Central State Constituency Hajarat Danyaro, hailed the governor for his passion for her constituents.
Save our soul, Bayelsa residents cry out
Residents of Otuoke community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa have called on the Federal and State governments for intervention against predicted flooding.
Otuoke Community Development Association Chairman, Mr. John Okubowei, made the plea yesterday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The community leaders listed Ebirimo, Ologakpo, Elabio and Okiko as the areas needing intervention.
He noted that the association had identified canals, creeks and some blocked natural waterways, which needed to be opened to avoid a repeat of the 2022 flood disaster in the community.
Okubowei said the community, as a kind self-help following her experiences in the 2012 and 2022 ravaging floods, had since cleared the blocked natural waterways and even pulled down structures erected on them.
According to him, the community did not have the wherewithal to procure equipment and manpower to desilt creeks and canals identified as possible flood flashpoints.
Otuoke is the hometown of former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The Federal University in Bayelsa State is also located in the community.
The former president’s country home was among the worst-hit by the 2022 flooding, which wreaked havoc on humans and infrastructure.
The flood displaced many residents and destroyed properties, even as warnings have been given to signal another impending flood few months from now.
The community leader said: “In 2012, this community like many others in and outside Bayelsa suffered from ravaging floods. Last year 2022, this community was among the worst-hit by floods in the state.
“Though in 2012, because we quickly raised alarm, succour also came our way quickly. However, the community didn’t receive much attention during the 2022 floods.
“We’re calling on the Federal and state governments, all stakeholders and all relevant agencies of the government to come to our aid.
“The government should build Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and other facilities which will cater for the needs of the community as the floods are coming.
“Government must not wait until the floods start proper before putting these structures in place. It may be too late then.
“Luckily, we have identified creeks, canals and other channels through which the floods affect this community. “But as we speak, we’ve not seen the government clearing any of the blocked canals or creeks in this community like they’ve done in some parts of the state.”
• Most labels on sachet, bottled water fraudulent – Nutritionist
• We’re already supplying potable water to parts of Lagos Island – LWC
For ages, many parts of Lagos Island have lacked access to potable water in spite of being surrounded by the sea and the lagoon. Manufacturers of myriads of sachet and bottled water are said to be feasting on this by flooding the area with their products. Tanker drivers whose source of water and hygiene of their tanks cannot be ascertained are also not left out. They are all ‘cashing out’ on the communities where clean water is gold. Experts are of the view that water sold in the area should frequently be subjected to tests to save the people from being exposed to needless health crises, INNOCENT DURU reports.
Bassey, a resident of Lagos Island has a challenge getting clean water from his borehole. The water from the borehole, like many others in the area, contains large quantity of iron. He cannot use it in its natural form for any of his domestic needs.
After some time of growing grey hair over the challenge, he devised a means to get around the problem.
Explaining the strategy that he adopted, Bassey said: “I have what I call a ground tank. I pump water into a ground tank and leave it for a day for it to settle.
“When it settles, I will pump it into the tank at the top. With that, I would have clean water.
“With that system in place, I have been able to live in the place for about eight years without having challenges with water.”
Good as his strategy appears, Bassey can only use the water to cook. “I can’t drink it,” he said. “We take bottled water in the house to avoid water borne diseases.”
But the bottled water brand that Bassey prides to be very safe may not be safe after all. A water facility operated by a woman suspected to be an agent of the manufacturer of the bottled water was recently found to be adulterating the product.
She was said to be refilling dispenser bottles of the product with content from public sources.
Lagos State officials who visited the facility on inspection mission discovered that there was no proper storage system for the water, adding that the products were also displayed outside in an unfavourable condition.
Many of such adulterated packaged water are feared to have found their ways to the Island where clean water is a great treasure.
“We really have a huge problem with clean water. At times, some water may be clean but it would not be drinkable. So, bottled water is what we consider as truly drinkable here,” Lizzy, another resident said.
“We take bottled water in my house to stay away from water borne diseases, but the truth is that you don’t know how good the so-called bottled water is.
“It is just that you at least have some hope that it is better than consuming the confirmed polluted groundwater.”
Asked if she fears some top brands of bottled water could be adulterated, Lizzy said: “Nothing is impossible in Nigeria, especially here in Lagos. One cannot vouch for all these things they sell all over the place as safe bottled water.
“It is just that many people believe that bottled water is rarely adulterated unlike pure water that anyone can do at the back of his house.
“That is why you find that the bottle water business is thriving here. Some people buy tens of packs to keep in their houses because the water they have in their houses is not drinkable.
“Some are not even fit for cooking. They are only good for flushing the toilet and for some other uses.”
Mike Owhoko, publisher of Media Issues, an online newspaper, in a recent write up, raised the alarm about how Lekki and its environs have been flooded with myriads of bottled and sachet water, some of which he said have predisposed the people to diseases.
His words: “Lekki residents are exposed to water-related diseases engendered by sub-standard and unregulated sources of water supply.
“Increasing cases of dysentery and diarrhoea-induced pathogenic bacteria infections have sparked concerns on public health in the area.
“By Lekki, I mean the geographical area straddling between Tollgate and Victoria Garden City (VGC).
“Despite its aquatic location bordered by the sea and the lagoon, clean water is hard to find due to its peculiar topography.”
Regrettably, Owhoko said, “This has encouraged all manner of water merchants, using boreholes, tanker trucks and bottled water with questionable hygiene conditions lacking the capacity to pass purity test, to flood the area with their products.
“Ajah, an area adjacent to Lekki, has a good water table with a thick protective layer.
“This has led to the emergence of water vendors who use trucks/tanks to deliver and sell water to Lekki residents.
“Notwithstanding, there are concerns about hygiene.
“These tanker trucks are seldom washed and are prone to contamination. Some of these trucks have been in operation for over 10 years, yet operators do not deem it fit to wash them, thereby exposing residents to infections.
“Besides, in the course of dispensing water, tanker trucks pollute the environment through the generation of noise and carbon monoxide, causing health hazards.
“This leaves Lekki residents helpless, confining them to bottled water, which they believe are reliable. But they are wrong!
“The risk of contamination in bottled and sachet water is also high due to adulteration and imitation fueled by greed.”
Continuing, he said: “There are so many bottled water brands in circulation, all contending to capture the Lekki market share. “Those who believe their brands lack the capacity to compete resort to producing counterfeit by faking notable brands already enjoying market patronage. That is why at party venues in Lekki, empty bottles of consumed water of big brands are quickly taken away by quacks for recycle.
“Despite a lack of full-proof purity, Lekki residents believe they are better off with bottled water than drinking directly from boreholes and tanker trucks. This desperation to consume any water in bottle has exposed residents to unprepared risk.
In what appears to be a corroboration of Owhoko’s remarks, Nollywood actor, Uti Nwachukwu, not too long ago took to his social media handle to narrate his ordeal after consuming some bottled water.
Uti said he started stooling after consuming the water and blamed his incessant stooling on the amount of chemical contained in the table water.
Writing on his twitter handle, the actor said: “Dear bottled water companies, please what have you started adding to your water? If I wanted to projectile poop six-seven times a day, I’d have bought slimming tea!
“What’s all this? It can’t be only me! And it’s the biggest brands! Two of them now! Fix it so that I don’t call your names!
“I knew there was a problem when I was pooping steady and it was smelling of chemicals, like sanitizer, or alum or something! I stopped the first one and the stooling ceased.
“Took the second one and there were no issues. I bought a small bottle and it was worse! This one came with abdominal discomfort, acid reflux, and yes, watery stool with that same chemical/alum aroma.
“So now, I can only vouch for one brand that’s currently safe to consume. Who checks the standards of these things we put in our bodies?
“Reputable brands like these are causing harm! Who even knows the effects on our organs? I’m tired!”
Some respondents to his tweet are of the opinion that the actor might have taken adulterated bottled water.
“Maybe one … has started making the adulterated version. Who knows,” a Nairaland user who identified himself as SportsHD said.
Our reporter, who spent some time in a hotel at Jakande area, said apart from drinking purpose, he was compelled to get a bottled water pack to brush his mouth because he couldn’t manage the water in the hotel.
He said: “When I entered the hotel, I went to use the restroom. I was shocked at what I saw. The water in the toilet was brownish and I thought someone used it and did not flush.
“I decided to flush it, but what came out was not different from what I thought was urine.
“It was at that time that it dawned on me that that could be the nature of the water in the environment.
“I was more dazed when I tried to brush and bathe. The water that came from the tap was smelly and I quickly turned off the tap.
“I rushed to the reception to complain but all that the front desk person could do was to apologise. She said it was not their fault that that is how their water is.
“I had to ask them to get me better water to bathe because there was no way I could have bathed with the smelly water.
“To save himself from a health crisis, I went to buy a pack of bottled water. It was brisk business in the area. Everybody in the hotel was going to get bottled water even for brushing.
“Nobody cared about the brand as long as it was bottled. The other alternatives you have are to either buy pure water or get a keg to buy from the community.”
Banana Island is the least place one would expect to hear that unsafe water is obtainable. This is owing to the class of people residing in the neighbourhood. But there, the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), also recently sealed the Banana Island Property Owners Resident Association (BIPORAL) Water Treatment Plant for failing to meet the required safety and quality standards.
Tests conducted by the LSWRC revealed that the water quality of the plant was unsafe for consumption and required improved treatment.
There are feelings that water could easily have been packaged by any manufacturer for the public on mere assumption that water from such an environment will always be hygienic.
Tanker driver, sachet water merchants also ‘cashing out’
Aside from bottled water manufacturers, sachet water producers and people vending water with tankers are also having a good share of business in the area.
James, a resident of First Gate area of Jakande, said he buys water from water tankers but the hygiene and quality of the water cannot be ascertained.
“We don’t have good water at all. Our water is not drinkable. We don’t even use it to cook,” James began the chat with our correspondent on note of lamentation.
“We can only use it to wash and flush the toilet. The water ordinarily stains the toilet but we always use strong toilet soaps to keep it clean. We can’t use it to wash white clothes,” he added.
Asked where he gets water to attend to other needs, James said: “We buy water from vendors most often. They hawk the water in tanks. That is the kind of water we use to cook. A Jerry can of 25 litres is N200.
“I have a big drum that I fill with water worth N2,000. I do this every week. Our water here in Jakande, as bad as it is, is far better than what some people have in their areas. “The water in some communities is so bad that even if you put alum in it, the quality will not improve.”
Godonu, a resident of Oke Ira, told our correspondent that he uses pure water to cook because the water around him is smelly.
“The water smells, and many atimes, I buy sachet water to cook. If there is no money to buy sachet water, we would go to Oke Ira Nla to buy water.
“We always manage the water we buy for cooking and drinking while we use the smelly one for bathing.
“We don’t feel comfortable using such water to bathe, but since we don’t have an alternative, we have to manage what is available.
“We always endure the foul smell.”
Godonu’s neigbour, Elizabeth, spoke of how the polluted water they were using before caused the children to have rashes.
“The place we were fetching water from before has spoilt. The water was always brown and also causing rashes for the children.
“If you saw the bodies of our children before now, you would wonder where they came about rashes. The water was responsible for it.
“The water that we are using now is clean but it is smelly. We only use it to bathe.
“Before we use the water to bathe, we would fetch it into a container for some time for fresh air to blow the horrible smell away. You just have to do that if you want to at least manage to enjoy your bath.
“Some people are still complaining that this present water is causing itching for them. But the complaints are not widespread like when we were using the other water.”
Even though the present water is clean, Elizabeth said, they cannot use it to cook. “No, we don’t. It is not good to use smelly water to cook what one eats.
“We always cross to the other side of the road to buy the water that we drink.
“A regular big plastic paint costs N100. I spend an average of N300 on water every day. This is really affecting me financially because in a month, I spend nothing less than N10,000 to buy just water. How much do I make from my petty business in a month?
“If I don’t buy the water to attend to domestic needs, it will have ripple effects on me and the family, and this includes health issues that N10,000 may not be able to take care of.”
Another resident, who gave her name simply as Lydia, said she had rashes all over her body when she newly arrived in the area.
She said: “My body reacted negatively to the water. In fact, I never knew that the water in this area is terribly bad until I came here.
“I resorted to using pure water but the truth is that you cannot ascertain if the water is free of contamination or not. You only use it because they say it is pure water and truly it does not have colour, and does not smell like the ground water.
“Another way out when there is no money to spend on pure water is to buy water in gallons.”
Writing on Quora, an online platform, a dietician and nutritionist, Muhammad Haseeb, said tanker water may be susceptible to contamination from various sources. If the water source or the tanker itself is contaminated, it can introduce harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or parasites into the hospital’s water supply. These contaminants can cause water borne diseases and infections, particularly in immune-compromised patients.
H added: “Tanker water may carry water borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid or hepatitis A. These diseases can spread rapidly within a hospital setting, especially if the water is used for drinking, hand hygiene or medical procedures.
“Patients, staff and visitors with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to such infections.
“Tanker water quality may also be compromised by chemical contaminants. Industrial pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals or disinfection byproducts can find their way into the water supply.
“Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can lead to various health problems, including gastrointestinal issues, liver or kidney damage, neurological disorders, or even an increased risk of cancer.”
If inadequately disinfected, the nutritionist said, “tanker water might not undergo adequate disinfection processes compared to the water supplied through a municipal system.
“Insufficient disinfection can lead to the survival of pathogens in the water, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.
“Hospitals require a high level of water quality and disinfection to maintain a safe environment for patients, staff and medical procedures.
“The quality of tanker water may vary depending on the source, transportation and storage conditions.
“Lack of control over the water supply can result in inconsistent quality, making it difficult to ensure reliable and safe water for hospital operations.
“This inconsistency can impact patient care, hygiene practices, and medical equipment maintenance.”
Another nutritionist, Seun Obembe, says relevant government agencies need to conduct regular tests on packaged water “because there is what we call alkaline water and acid water.
“Most of the water labels are just information fraud. I am in Kaduna right now and most of the water I have tested here are apologies.
“That is why there is an epidemic of typhoid and ulcer. The government should test this water and do the right thing.
“Let’s check it clinically. What is chlorine overdose, because they use chlorine inside the water?
“The recommended allowance for water in a day is two litres. How many sachets produce two litres? And then check the content of chlorine in them. That one is detrimental to health.
“All these things have to be regulated. The government needs to do more work. They should encourage more scientists.
“They should bring more dieticians and nutritionists on board. It is when there is an outbreak that they will start looking for researchers to bring out papers.”
On the use of polluted water by the people, Obembe said: “When you say it is contaminated water, then it is detrimental to the health of the users. Even when you use it to bathe, the pores on the skin will definitely open and allow bacteria to go into the body.
“People who are obese are prone to sickness because all these microorganisms hide inside them. So when there are issues in the body, all those pathogens that have been hiding inside the body will come out to strike.
We’re already supplying water to parts of Island – LWC
Regional Business Manager of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC), South South Lagos, Mrs Adewumi Folake, said the corporation was working on making clean water available on the Island.
She said: “Presently, water is getting to Adeniji, Idumagbo, and Iduganran. We are working towards building up our pressure so that the supply will get to many more places on the Island.
“LWC is working towards that. We have a pipeline network on the Island.
“Our water supply is coming from the Mainland. The Ajiyan and Iju water works are supplying the Island. We are sure that the challenge of clean water will soon come to an end when we complete our works.
Corroborating Mrs Adewumi’s remarks, the Public Relations Officer of LWC, Mrs Kehinde Fashola, said residents of Island and Lagos in general should rest assured that there would be abundant water supply in the state.
“The present MD is doing what one can imagine. He is working towards installing water in every household in Lagos State.
“A lot of rehabilitation is already going on at our mini and macro water works. All hands are on deck to make sure every household has water in Lagos.
