By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

The current insecurity in the northwest has turned Sokoto into one of the densely populated state capitals in the North.

The increased rural urban migration coupled with the influx of internally displaced persons, IDPs, have played a significant role in the current scarcity of potable water in Sokoto the state metropolis.

The IDPs situation results from the wanton activities of kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers in 13 out 23 local government areas of the state.

Water has since become gold and a scarce commodity in the metropolis. This has been hitting hard in the daily lives of residence of the ancient city and a major source of concern to the generality of residents in the state capital.

Despite alleged huge investment investment made by successive and present administration, water availability in the metropolis is still a challenge.

Water vendors

Consequently, the business of water vendors has become so lucrative despite it being in a fasting period when majority of household reduced the usage of the commodity for cooking.

However, the sales of water in jerry cans in the state is dominated by Buzaye, who have made the state home from neighbouring Niger Republic.

An average Buzu water seller using 12 jerry cans wheelbarrow can fetch up to N6,000 daily, depending on the proximity.

For customers residing from the second floor of a house, it is N120 and N130 per 25 litre of jerry can full of water.

Residence in areas in the capital such as Kofar Marke, Gobirawa, Gidan haki, Tsohuwar Kasuwa, Rijiyar Doruwa, Kofar Atiku, Tudun Wada, Kalfu, Bello way, Emir Yahaya and Central Market buy the commodity at N120 per 25 liters and an average household use an estimated 220 litres of water daily.

Resident groans

Alhaji Sidi Umar a resident of Digar Agere in the state metropolis told Vanguard that since the beginning of this year, the area has been experiencing water scarcity and all efforts by the community to reach out to the authority concerned proves impossible.

According to him, the issue of scarcity of water in the metropolis has been politicised.

He said: “We made several attempts to speak with the committee set up by the governor to address the issue.

“But some disgruntled elements blocked our way, tagging us as politically motivated sponsored group. They see nothing good in the APC-led administration in the state.”

Govt reacts

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Water Resources, Yusuf Maccido, said the government has since commenced overhauling of broken-down pumping machines.

Also, they are dredging the 72 earth dams, coupled with the distribution of water tankers in the metropolis.

All this he said was to provide succour to people and as well address the lingering situation.

Maccido, while conducting newsmen round the project site, said Governor Ahmad Aliyu, was highly disturbed with the ugly situation.

He added that the governor had inaugurated a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, and released enough resources to dowse the tension.

“We were aware that people are faced with difficulties on water scarcity, coping with Ramadan fasting as Eid Fitr festivities approaches.

“Experts from Kaduna state have since joined hands with engineers from the state water board with a view to repairing the damaged machines,” he noted.

He added that the measure was to restore normal supply of water in the metropolis.

Obsolete equipment

According to him, three of the pumping machines are expected to function from the main water intake along Kware Road, which would restore supply to water board systems for onward supply to the residents.

“We have designed a lasting solution to the lingering water supply problems across the state within the next three years,” he said

He stressed that most of the water agencies engines were absolete and needed complete replacement, which would take a long period to be captured in state’s budget and procurement of machines from

According to him, the dredging of earth dams were part of long term plan to argument raw water supply from Bakalori and Goronyo dams, which were the main source of water to the water board facilities.

He said the dredging is a joint project between state government, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and World Bank and it also included Shagari dam rehabilitations beside Goronyo and Bakalori dams.

He further stated that Lugu Dam in Wurno local government area had also been rehabilitated through ACReSAL project, while extension of Goronyo Dam was on the process up to Tsitse village to supply raw water as well as for irrigation purposes.

Maccido stressed that arrangement were also in progress to harness the potentials of Shagari Dam for hydroelectric power generation which would benefits the nation at large.

He added that state government is rightly implementing water policy in terms of generation, distribution, consumption and commercial services.

‘His words: “We targeted 80 percent rehabilitation of water supply systems, as at present below 20 percent is being utilizes.

”We are determined to ensure that dams, machineries and other facilities functions in thier highest capacity before the end of present administration,” Maccido said.

He appealed for public understanding as government is fully committed to end biting water scarcity on the residents and fulfilled the Gov. Aliyu’s campaign promise.

The çommissioner blamed saboteurs and law water levels in Bakalori and Goronyo the two Dams supplying water to the state, adding that some people within the system were trying to discredit the state government in the eyes of the general public.

Another contributing factor according to the çommissioner is the erratic power supply from the national grid. The state is on load shedding daily, which makes it difficult for the state water works to receive adequate power to treat and pump water to the public.

Three years ago

It could be recalled that about three years ago Goronyo Dam which contribute to more than 60 per cent of the water consumed in Sokoto metropolis and its environs almost dried up with little or no water to be used for irrigation and human consumption.

Many well-to-do residents of the state capital now drill boreholes and open wells in their homes as a remedy, while the majority of such boreholes drilled dried off within a short period due to the distance of water level from the surface, which is above 130 metres below sea level.

Governor Aliyu has, at the instance of his electioneering campaign, promised potable water as one of his nine points agenda if elected into office.

However, the problem still persist after 10 months in office as Governor of the state.

Many residents expressed fear of the possible outbreak of gastrointestinal disorders as a result of using running water from streams and locally-made water reservoirs by people for cooking and other domestic purposes.

Vanguard News