Water scarcity hits Owerri, environs

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI— Acute water scarcity has hit residents of Owerri metropolis and  adjoining communities, even as nobody knows when the ugly situation will abate.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the affected citizens are already suspecting that epidemic of unimaginable proportion may soon hit the municipality, if nothing was done immediately to restore water supply.

It was also gathered, yesterday, that the management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, disconnected electricity supply to Otamiri Regional Water Works and other water establishments, over N65,378,596.95 debt standing against the state government as unpaid bills.

One of the workers, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, explained that the current situation in the place was made worse by the non-availability of a functional electric generating set.

Confirming the development in a telephone conversation, PHCN Senior Manager, Public Relations, Owerri Business Unit, Mr. Ositadinma Ugwuafor, said the state government cumulatively owed the establishment over N224.2 million.

He said: “PHCN actually disconnected public power supply to Otamiri Water Works. The state government owes PHCN a lot of money. We even intend to disconnect other offices, since government does not want or is reluctant to clear the bills.”