Water scarcity: Wells dry, others risk lowest decline.

 

By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.

Many wells in Gadumo quarters,one of the human settlements in Lokoja, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria,  have gone dry while others are at the lowest ebb of water supply.

Investigation by the Correspondent of The Reporters on Sunday indicates that the development might not be unconnected with the ongoing scarcity of potable water in most parts of the state capital.

This is sequel to the October flood of 2022 and the damage it caused to facilities, particularly the water plant at the Greater Lokoja Water Works.

The online publication recalls that the flood which registered some catastrophic consequences on human and infrastructural resources of the state, while it lasted, completely submerged the facilities at the Greater Lokoja Works which supplies drinkable water to the general public in Lokoja.

Our findings also revealed that the development was due to the people's resorting,heavily on the use of well water to accomplish their domestic and commercial activities.

The current excruciating heat, characteristic of Lokoja at this moment of the year, also necessitated increased use of well water to avert the consequences of heat related challenges.

Our Correspondent reports that the only source of potable water supply,as at the time of this report on Sunday, is the Lokoja Water Board where many people converged on queue,far and neat in the state capital to fetch water.

Some landlords in Gadumo who spoke with our Correspondent on the issue, described the volume of people trooping to their compounds, seeking for water as enormous and attributed the volume to the accelerated dry up of most wells in the area.

They expressed concern that with wells drying up, in the mist of the scarcity of potable water, the future looked bleak,if effort is not increased to restore drinkable water to the public. 

They, however, commended the state government for repairing the facilities but stressed that the effects of scarcity of potable water also became serious as a result of absence of rainfall in Lokoja. 

The Reporters also recalls that the Commissioner for Water Resources,Mr. Abdulmumini Danga, told Journalists, about a month ago, that works had reached 70 per cent completion on the repair of the facilities to enable governnent resume the supply of water to the public.

He called for the people's understanding  and patience, assuring them that the scarcity  would soon be a thing of the past.