Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory have lamented lack of water supply to Kubwa, Gudu, Gwagwalada, and Airport road areas in Abuja.
DAILY POST gathered that the water disruption, according to the FCT Waterboard, was due to a damaged pipeline feeding a major water treatment plant in Usuma Dam, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The residents, who said that the water scarcity has lasted for over a week, expressed disappointment that they were not informed to store water prior to the disruption.
When DAILY POST spoke to some persons affected by the development, they expressed frustration that the water scarcity had made them resort to some unclean boreholes, wells, and streams in the area.
They also lamented that the non-availability of water from the board had made water vendors, popularly known as Mai ruwa, to exploit them.
A resident of MFA quarters, Mr Onyekachi Raymond told this reporter that Mai ruwa were using the opportunity to sell water for N2000 for (10) 20kg jerricans.
Another identified as Abidemi Prosper said, “It’s now 9 gruesome days of no water in Kubwa. I have lot of laundry and unclean house because I am managing water. This is something you don’t want to wish your enemy.”
Hillary Uzosike had this to say, “1 week now and no water in this area. The week before there was no water for several days. The water sellers are oppressing us, enough is enough. Please FCT Waterboard should pity us with kids, this issue is frustrating.”
Idy Rez said, “75% of the residents of Kubwa in Abuja use pipe borne water and for the past weeks now there’s no water. In Kubwa “Mai ruwa are selling water at N250 per 25 ltr. How much can we buy to sustain us in a day? Nigeria will use even water to frustrate people, it’s really sad.”
Emma Akor sais, “In Gudu there are few boreholes, so we come here 5am every day because if you don’t come on time, you will not get water. Even the water tankers that are distributing water in some areas do not stay more than 10 minutes. Some people rush out with buckets and still leave without water, is that fair?”
One Grace Nath, a resident of Gwarinpa said “If there is any way we have offended Water Board, please we are very sorry. This is the second time in March the flow gets disrupted. How many more days are we supposed to stay without water supply? I have a lot to do but I cannot because it requires water; water is too important to humans, please we are calling on the government to come to our aid.”
On his part, Duru Jude said, “People are really suffering. Kids roaming the street in search of water is very unfair. We were not informed before the water scarcity began, the tankers sent by Water board to distribute Water cannot even sustain one street. It just seems like suffering is normal in this country because basic amenities is so difficult to regulate.”
However, when DAILY POST contacted the FCT water board Customer care, they appealed to the residents to exercise patience, adding that they were intensifing efforts to restore water supply the affected areas.
The customer care representative identified as Ahmed Abudullahi told DAILY POST that there was an issue with the pipeline that service phases three and four treatment plants.
He said, ”It is a technical work and we are working to restore water to all affected areas. Hopefully very soon the issue will be sorted.
”We cannot be specific as to when the water will be restored because we do not want to disappoint our customers but within the shortest time, water supply will be back.”
When asked why the water tankers sent by the board could not service everyone and also supply water daily to the affected areas, Abudullahi said “the tankers have a capacity they can take and might not be able to serve everyone.
”We are just trying to manage the situation. We want to reach every affected part within this period, so everyone might get water from the tankers but we assure them that we are working hard to restore water to the areas.”
