Water scarcity hits parts of Damaturu

Residents of Commissioners’ Quarters in Damaturu, Yobe State, have lamented worsening water scarcity following the breakdown of a generator powering a major public borehole serving the area. The affected borehole, identified as DA 48 and located around the Diop Estate axis of the state capital, supplies water to one of the most prominent residential areas […]

Residents of Commissioners’ Quarters in Damaturu, Yobe State, have lamented worsening water scarcity following the breakdown of a generator powering a major public borehole serving the area.

The affected borehole, identified as DA 48 and located around the Diop Estate axis of the state capital, supplies water to one of the most prominent residential areas in Damaturu, where top government officials, security chiefs and political office holders reside.

Among residents of the area are the Director of the Department of State Services, the Commissioner of Police, state commissioners and a member of the House of Representatives, among other dignitaries.

Residents said the crisis began after the generator powering the borehole developed mechanical faults, leaving many households struggling to access water.

Some residents noted that the situation reflects the broader challenges facing public water supply across the state.

“If a community like Commissioners’ Quarters within the state capital can suffer this level of hardship despite having top government officials residing there, then one can only imagine what people in remote communities are going through,” a resident said.

The development has heightened concerns over increasing cases of water scarcity affecting several communities in Damaturu and neighbouring areas.

The operator of the borehole, Baba Wuro, said the generator had been in use for more than two decades.

According to him, the generator was installed alongside the borehole during the administration of late Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

“The generator is as old as the borehole itself. It was commissioned the same day as the Yobe State Islamic Centre,” he said.

A community elder, Malam Abdul, said residents had become increasingly frustrated over the persistent water shortage.

He disclosed that some youths in the area had proposed staging a protest before elders intervened and opted to engage officials of the Yobe State Water Board Corporation through dialogue.

“A lot of residents were angry and wanted to protest over the situation, but we calmed them down and promised to channel their complaints appropriately,” he said.

He added that some wealthy residents had allowed neighbours to fetch water from their private boreholes, helping to ease the hardship.

Another resident, Malam Baba Karami, said complaints had previously been lodged with water authorities over the poor condition of the borehole and the need to increase its operational hours due to the growing population in the area.

According to him, the ageing generator had suffered frequent engine oil shortages and mechanical faults for years.

“Sometimes, some residents volunteered to buy engine oil just to keep the generator running and avoid a total breakdown of the water supply,” he said.

A source at the office of the General Manager of the Yobe State Water Board Corporation, who spoke anonymously, alleged that several complaints relating to similar issues had earlier been forwarded to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government without response.

The source claimed the requests were submitted long before the current SSG declared interest in the governorship race under the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Reacting, the Director of Technical Services at the Yobe State Water Board Corporation, Hussaini Adamu, acknowledged the challenges facing the agency.

He said the corporation manages more than 100 boreholes in Damaturu and neighbouring communities, noting that maintaining the facilities with limited resources had remained difficult.

“We have already procured a block engine and crankshaft for the overhaul of the generator powering DA 48,” he said.

According to him, other components required for the repairs, including bearings and pistons, are available locally and will soon be installed.