Kubwa water crisis bites harder as alternatives shrink
Alternative sources of water in Kubwa area of Abuja are shrinking, as the area enters its 11th day on Monday since supply from the public water board ceased. An emergency maintenance work on the Abuja water treatment plant at Usuma Dam last Friday has also affected water supply beyond Kubwa, including to areas like Gwagwalada, […]
A water vendor being leading into the emergency section of the Kubwa general hospital on Monday Credit: Adamu Umar
Alternative sources of water in Kubwa area of Abuja are shrinking, as the area enters its 11th day on Monday since supply from the public water board ceased.
An emergency maintenance work on the Abuja water treatment plant at Usuma Dam last Friday has also affected water supply beyond Kubwa, including to areas like Gwagwalada, Gudu, the University and airport areas.
Residents of Kubwa have enjoyed steady water supply in the past.
But its residents are having to rely on boreholes and wells as alternatives in the last 11 days.
Women and children queue in both early and late hours to take their turns to get water in the food neighbourhood.
Many have to wait longer as water levels in newly discovered wells shrink under growg demand.
Others have to buy water from wheeltruck vendors, popularly known as “mai ruwa”
A cart set with 10 20-litre jerrycan which has before now sold for N300 now sells as high as N2,000.
Cost of a bag of sachet water has risen to N150.
The FCT water board has recently claimed it sent water tankers to affected areas to cushion the hardship.
But a Daily Trust check has faulted the claim.
Residents in affected areas said they were yet to witness the said gesture.