Benue Communities Cry for Water Supply Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Water Scarcity
Raphael Mbaiorga
Water remains one of the most essential sources of human existence. According to Journal of Biological Chemistry, the brain and the heart are composed of 73% water, and lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79% and then the bones 31% water.
Benue State plays host to one of the two biggest Rivers in Nigeria; River Benue. Makurdi, the state’s capital is situated right on the banks; spanning from the North to South banks of River Benue. Yet residents of this ancient city has endured the dilemma of water over decades and the successive population outburst coupled with rural urban migration, the bad case continuous to worsen by the day.
Although many residents of Makurdi live staring at the floating river, accessing portable water for many household needs could be the greatest task of the day, especially shortly after raining season that could be a nightmare to thousands of flood prone communities and the state capital inclusive.
THE TRANSMITTER investigated the protected water crisis at the time water use has almost tripped in household due to the Coronavirus pandemic the whole world is battling to contain.
75-80% percent of Benue communities are not connected to the distribution plant and even in the state’s capital just a handful of communities can boast of pipes linking their settlements.
Stephen Tever, a house owner in Logo 1 has a well of 200 feet, yet has no water to cook. In his words, ”I endure flooded environment during raining season yet just after the rains, would have to trek for about two kilometers away from the house to fetch from our neighbors.” He also laments the increasing cost of water hawkers, popularly known as mai-ruwa ” few years ago you could buy 20liters container for 15 naira, now it is about 40. It is becoming unaffordable.”
For James Awalu a water vendor, he said “I sell this water to support my career. Usually I buy from a nearby borehole pump at the rate of 20 per 20liters and sell at 40 naira each. I started selling water when it was sold at 25 naira, we used to buy it at 10 naira per 20liters but things have changed now.”
Amos Kwaghterna, a Dry Cleaner said ”the volume of water I use daily depends on the patronage I have but normally between 50 -80 liters. I am fortunate to fetch from a neighbors.” Kwaghterna’s case is one in a million as it takes a good man to share his water source now with others for private use, talk more of commercial purpose, for free.
Ngutor Isho a resident of Adekaa in Gboko laments the biting water scarcity ”unfortunately, since I became an adult, I have never experienced tap water in this ancient settlement. I cannot tell if there are pipes connecting us or not. Sometimes you have to choose between cooking, washing or bathing.”
In Adikpo kwande local government, the case is not different. According to Tyohen Ishima, “there used to be tap water distribution in Adikpo, when I was growing up, but as it stands, many social amenities are rapidly declining or dilapidating. For instance, we used to have an alternative power plant as a local government supplying us light maintained by the local government administration, but today where is it?”
In Lobi Quarters Makurdi, where there is relative water dispensing point, residents were at the time of this report groaning. A house owner who prefers not to be named said “even though we used to get it twice a week, now I cannot recall the last time we experienced pipe borne water here.”
According to the General Manager, Gideon Shange ”in order to mitigate water shortage, pipeline extension projects are ongoing around the town which is a project of the Benue State Government in partnership with World Bank. The targeted areas include, Judges’ Quarters from Benue state University Unity Campus, then Nyiman Layout down to BIPC Quarters, as well as international market areas.” When asked to clear the air on the inability of the past administration to complete the agreed payment of contracts sum to the contractor which made it impossible for the contractor to link the town up with the newly built water plant for sufficient utilization he refused to comment “I cannot comment on the issues of past administration bordering on budgets and Investment in Greater Makurdi Water Works” he said.
According to the General Manager ”right now work is ongoing to revive the tanks in Katsina Ala, Adikpo as Otukpo is already pumping water to full capacity.”
”As it stands the Water Board is pumping over 40,000 cubic meters of water on a daily basis although, currently the installed capacity is about 50,000 cubic meters, but when the refurbishment of the old plant is completed which has the capacity to pump 18,000 cubic meters we should have close to 70,000 cubic meters heading towards 100,000 thousand which is our target.” He said attempts are ongoing to rechanneling some pipes for effective distributions.
Given the inability of the government to provide safe pipe borne water, many residents have resulted to borehole drilling which according to many would pose environmental hazard such as earth tremor or other similar occurrences. Gideon Shenge however said ”the Ministry of Environment has the authority make recommendations and not water board.” At the time of filling this report, the Ministry could not be reached.
While individuals and government continue to find solutions to the ever increasing water demand in Benue recall that in 2007, When Gabriel Suswam became governor of Benue State, his first point of official call was the Makurdi Water Works, where he promised to make water available for the state capital and extend same to other towns like Katsina Ala, Gboko and Oturkpo. To date, there are claims of upgrade of facilities at the Board, but residents of these areas are seen going about, even at odd times in search of this element of life (water). In areas like High Level, children are sometimes seen scooping water from broken pipes. The situation of rural inhabitants is even worse. In places like Naka, Aliade, Agberagba, Yogbo, Zaki Biam and Adoka, people walk miles in search for water, which is not even good for human consumption. It is unfortunate how River Benue has not been tapped by successive administrations in Benue State for the good of residents. Efforts of the Aku/Adasu eras have been neglected and a bad situation has become worse. Some residents of Benue State search for water as if they were in some desert destination.
