Residents roam streets with gallons as water scarcity hits Ebonyi

RESIDENTS of Ebonyi State, particularly those in Abakaliki, the state capital, are groaning under severe scarcity of drinking water, which has triggered fear of imminent water-borne diseases as they now make use of any water they can lay their hands on.

The water scarcity in Abakaliki city was said to have worsened due to damaged water supply infrastructure from construction work on the Azuinyioku bridge, as well as vandalized equipment, which has forced residents to rely on expensive, often unwholesome alternatives.

The state government, however, said they are rehabilitating the Oferekpe and Ezillo water schemes to restore supply and urged residents to protect pipes from damage.

The scarcity is not only a result of the damage caused by road construction, but also years of neglect of the major water schemes in the state by previous administrations, is a major cause. The scarcity has led to high cost of water, with many depending on private, often contaminated boreholes, well water, ponds, or purchasing from vendors.

On assumption of office, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, listed supply of potable water as a key component of his People’s Charter of Needs for the people. Consequently, he announced the rehabilitation of the major water treatment plants in Oferekpe and Ezillo to restore supply, resulting in some areas receiving water briefly, which later stopped.

The government said they are working to revive the Oferekpe and Ezillo water schemes, with the Oferekpe plant being the largest, having a capacity of 100,000m2 per day, but warned against vandalism of pipes, with threats of sealing homes for the destruction of water infrastructure.

At its inception, the state, then under the threat of the scourge of Guinea worm disease, drew international and national attention, which drew massive investment in water supply to the people, led by UNICEF. This led to the eradication of Guinea worm disease in the state. Early successive governments in the state sustained the effort, but later administrations somehow dropped the ball, paying less attention to the issue of water supply to the people

The Ezillo Regional Water Scheme, built during the tenure of Governor Jim Nwobodo of old Anambra State, from August 1979 to 1983, serviced Abakaliki and its environs, but was not maintained until the establishment of the Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EBRUWASSA), to tackle the potable rural water challenge, the state should not be talking of water problem today.

Kudos should also go to the military administrations in the state as they were reported to have shown more than special interest in the supply of potable water to Ebonyi State residents. That interest was sustained by the administration of the first civilian Governor, Sam Egwu, and his successor, Chief Martin Elechi, who embarked on the N3 billion water scheme in Oferekpe. The project reached about 70 per cent completion before Elechi left office. The intention was to reticulate water in all parts of the state when completed. Many people expected the next administration to continue and complete the mega water projects, but to no avail.

But during the eight-year tenure of Governor Dave Umahi, potable water supply suffered a serious setback. The Umahi administration even scrapped the Water Corporation, and merged it with the Ministry of Water Resources, which made residents joke that, “we needed water, but Umahi gave us flyovers.’’
However, under Umahi, some areas of Abakaliki enjoyed potable water supply, though not on a daily basis, following the rehabilitation carried out at the Ezillo Water Scheme, which serves some parts of Abakaliki.

Under Governor Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs, supply of potable water was to be accorded a priority. A staff of the state’s Ministry of Water Resources said the ministry was doing everything possible to reactivate all the water schemes in the state.

According to him, Ebonyi State has five water schemes, viz: Ezillo, Oferekpe, Old Abakaliki, Ukawu, and Ishiagu. He said that water was supplied to some areas in Abakaliki from the Ezillo Water Scheme towards the end of 2025, but it did not last. He said that the 40,000 cubic metres reservoir at Umuoghara was functional, adding that rehabilitation work on the Old Abakaliki Regional Water Scheme was almost completed to tackle the water problem.

“You know that we have water schemes scattered in Ebonyi; the Ezillo, Oferekpe, and Old Abakaliki water schemes, among others. But, for now, it is the Ezillo Water Scheme that is delivering water to the public, hence not all parts of the capital city are getting supplies.

“The Oferekpe Water Scheme will soon be ready, with the rehabilitation work going on there. In the Old Abakaliki Water Scheme, reconstruction work is also going on and will soon be completed,” he explained.
Residents of Abakaliki are appealing to Governor Nwifuru to do everything within his powers to ensure that the Ministry of Water Resources once again resumes pumping of water from the Ezillo Water Scheme; noting that the daily budget for sachet water is getting too expensive.

The water from many boreholes in Abakaliki is not very good for drinking because of salinity. Also, as a result of the long dry season, many wells and boreholes have dried up, making buying water from vendors very expensive.

The scarcity of water has pushed many residents to roam the streets as early as 4:00am in search of potable water in private boreholes

A civil servant, Mrs. Jane Udogu, said she spends about N1,200 daily on sachet water. “We are seven in the house, and now ration sachet water. A bag of sachet water is between N550 and N600. We buy two bags a day, then when you calculate it in a month, it is a huge amount of money, how much is my salary as a civil servant?

“When the taps were running, I spent about N700 to N800 to transport three gallons of water (25 litres), and we drank the water for more than a week. This scarcity of water may lead to water-borne diseases. This is because residents are now drinking contaminated water and salty water, which may endanger their lives. I appeal to Governor Nwifuru to repair the broken pipes and urge the Ministry of Water Resources to resume the supply of potable water to the public.”

Students are seriously being affected by the water scarcity as they wake up as early as 4.30am in search of water along major roads and streets before going to prepare for classes.

“It gives us serious concern and stress to wake up very early in the morning to go and search for water, and sometimes we don’t see where to fetch potable water because many boreholes have dried up.”
A resident of Abakaliki, Chief Matthew Nweke, noted that merging Ebonyi Water Corporation with the Ministry of Water Resources by the previous administration was not the best decision.

“The Water Corporation is the engine room of water supply. If you merge it with the ministry, how can it perform?” Nweke wondered, insisting that water should be the main priority of the government.

According to him, the way out is to show commitment by investing in the water sector. He stressed that the Oferekpe Regional Water Scheme, constructed by the Elechi administration and has the capacity to supply potable water to eight local government areas, should be made functional once again.

He said the Ezillo Regional Water Scheme needed rehabilitation and, if that is done, the potable water scarcity in Abakaliki and its environs would be greatly reduced.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Chinedum Magnus Nkah, in his reaction, said that the government is doing everything to restore public water supply in Abakaliki and other areas in the state. He explained that the ministry stopped the supply of water due to vandalized equipment.

Nkah promised that one month from now, the water supply will resume in Abakaliki as the vandalized areas have been fixed.

The commissioner said he felt the pains of residents who search for water daily, saying the ministry will soon pump water from the Abakaliki Water Scheme to reduce the sufferings of residents.

We have some challenges with our equipment during our test-run. We noticed that they vandalized some of the equipment, but we have replaced ithem. So, in a few weeks, we will resume supply of water. We are making efforts to ensure that the old Abakaliki Water Scheme will come online. We have finished the mechanical aspect and are ready to pump water from there to serve the residents of Abakaliki metropolis within two weeks from now.

“So, we are also doing serious maintenance at Oferekpe Water Scheme, and within one month, we are going to have a bumper harvest of water. But in the interim, we are making efforts to ensure that the Ezillo Water Scheme will come on board before the end of the month.

“We regret the scarcity of water, and I really share in the pains of the residents. I want them to be patient and appeal to them that within a few weeks, all the problems will be sorted out and we will resume water supply,” Nkah assured.

culled from vanguard