Special Report
In Doka, queuing to fetch well water early is mandatory before it dries up!

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi 

Malam Isa Yuguda, Bauchi state Governor

As important as water is, most communities lack sources of good drinking water. Water which should be at the door step of every community has eluded many communities in the state which have forced people to drink any form of water they see regardless of the source.

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Topography, govt. inertia cripple water supply in Jos, Bukuru and its environs

By Bayo Alabira

Mr. David Jonah Jang, Plateau state Governor

If not for the services of water vendors in town, who service most of Jos, Bukuru and environs, from one street to the other, there wouldn’t have been water in the listed communities, and many more across Plateau state. 

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In Borno, search for water tortuous

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Ali Modu Sheriff, Borno state Governor

Efforts of past and present governments to tackle the problem of persistent scarcity of potable water in various parts of Borno state have continued to be unsuccessful. Indeed apart from poor road networks, insufficient potable water has become another burden making life and living very uncomfortable for people in the state.

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Fashola still to scale water hurdle in Lagos

From James Sani Swam, Lagos

Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos state GovernorGovernor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State once described Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) “as the largest water corporation in Africa,” supplying millions of gallons of clean water to inhabitants of the state. 

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Could Rimi have got a premonition that the end was near?

From Abba Abubakar Kabara, Gusau

Late Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi

It often occurs like a natural phenomenon. The fact is that one is sometimes pre-informed, albeit mysteriously, of an impending event that would directly affect him either for good or otherwise. It is usually an innate instinct, in most cases. However before one realises it the event suddenly comes to reality. So it was with the stormy petrel of Kano and even national politics, former Governor, 

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A colourful politician takes final bow

From Bala Nasir, Kano

Thousands of mourners who thronged Emir of Kano’s palace yesterday to attend the funeral prayers of Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi.

The death of Alhaji Abubakar Rimi last Sun-day has no doubt rekindled his love in the heart of the people of Kano state. As volatile politically as the state is, they all buried all political differences, discarded all prejudices and were unified in the love for the late radical political mentor as many were shedding tears profusely at his residence on the day of his burial. 

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Day armed robbers took over labour ward of Central Hospital, Benin

By Osaigbovomwan Iguobaro, Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Wednesday, 30th March, 2010 in Benin City, the Edo state capital will ever remain indelible in the mind of management and of staff of Central Hospital, Benin when armed robbers staged a daring raid on the maternity ward of the hospital. Though highly dramatic, it was not a funny sight as women in labour pains had to run helter-skelter naked for safety shouting, screaming and wailing at the same time.

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Benue residents live on river bank but ‘wash their hands with spittle’

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Gabriel Suswam, Benue state Governor

Benue State sits on a river from where it derives its name. The River Benue is one of the biggest rivers in the country. Yet the saying that one can not live on the bank of a river and still wash his hands with spittle is  unfortunately very  true for residents of Makurdi, the State capital. And this sad trend is  what is duplicated throughout  the state.

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‘Nasarawa’s water crisis is 50 years old’

From Umar Muhammed, Lafia

Angwa Ashimaga and Angwa Kuba are villages located on the outskirts of Nasarawa Eggon area of Nasarawa state. The two areas unfortunately have since about 50 years ago been facing chronic water problems. Nasarawa Eggon, is not exactly a water haven where residents would expect free flow of water for domestic, industrial and other uses. This however, explains why successful administrations have striven to tackle the situation since the creation of Nasarawa state out of Plateau state in 1996. In fact, since the time of the Abacha regime in the early 1990s considerable amount of money was being allocated on a yearly basis. Despite the efforts of the past administration of Governor Abdullahi Adamu who awarded contract on water projects across the state, there seems to be nothing substantial on the ground to put to an end to the perennial scarcity of water that has held the communities hostage for decades. According to the residents of Angwa Ashimaga and Angwa Kuba communities in particular, things could not possibly get any worse than what they are going through in terms of water scarcity. Peoples Daily investigations revealed that the people in the communities depend mainly on tankers who always drive about thirteen kilometers away from the local government headquarters before they could get water supply to those living in the remote villages. According to Adiza Muhammed, a trader of Kwilikwili also a resident of Angwa Ashimaga, the lingering problem of scarcity of water in their community has depleted her savings as more money is used for buying water compared to rainy season when they don’t spend money as such. She maintained further that they don’t even have wells let alone boreholes where the whole village could have access to potable water. She said as a business woman she always makes use of water whenever she comes back from the market. She said no matter how late, she goes to Ashimaga to fetch water, adding that because of the business she buys water to the tune of two of N200.00 on a daily basis. She lamented the situation the entire community is currently facing but noted that the problem of water scarcity had been with them virtually for time immemorial in the community. The trader further explained that they have been encountering diverse sickness as a result of bad water. She further called on government to provide them with potable water explaining that she is no longer as strong as before a result of bad water. It is a consensus of opinion that as far as water supply is concerned, Nasarawa Eggon and its environs has been facing a serious life threatening crisis. The head of Makama ward, Muhammed Audu Yaro, a farmer while sharing his experience with our reporter said the distance which they normally trek before they get water for use is about 10 kilometers away from the community and even at that, the little they could get was not even enough to go round for two days. He said the stress they experience is enough for one to be frustrated. According to him, they only get water between January and February. In March, he said they get little. Infact it is always difficult to get water to drink then. He further stated that they queue and struggle to get water whenever they go to the stream and sometimes they find it very difficult as a result of the surge of people living. He warned that if something is not done quickly to help control the situation , only God can tell what will happen to the present generation and generations to come. He maintained that because of the nature of the earth they always find it very difficult to dig the ground before getting water from it. He said the problem of water in Angwa Ashimaga has been there even before he was born and regretted that the situation keeps getting worse every day with government not doing enough to put an end to the situation. He, however, commended the Royal Highness, Dr. Bala Angbazu of the community for his efforts to dig a borehole in the community which he said had been helping the people. He then urged the local government chairman to present the matter before the governor. A seasonal businessman who trade in yams, Alhaji Musa Umar also spoke on the water problems in Nasarawa Eggon. He said as an indigene of the local government, it is regrettable that Nasarawa Eggon as old as it is has no tap water, no boreholes and even no pond. He, therefore, called on government to urgently do something to put the situation under control, adding that there was a time when contaminated water made people fell sick for a very long period of time. He said in 2002, he was admitted for seven months in the hospital and spent close to N150,000 on treatment. The district head of Nasarawa Eggon Alhaji Sule Dogo Anda who spoke on behalf of His Royal Highness said although many governments have come and gone, nothing has been done to improve the situation. He said the present administration led by governor Doma has been trying to ensure that the water problems in Ashimaga community will soon be a thing of the past. He however called on the entire community to exercise patience. According to him, the situation has been improved compared to the past administration adding that there had not been any sign of construction in terms of digging boreholes and taps in the community for more than 20 years now. He further stated that the problem of water facing the community could not be solved alone by the government saying it is the responsibility of government to do so, but collectively they would work together. He praised some individuals who had been providing water by digging wells and boreholes. The Chief Executive of quality Restaurant along Lafia Akwanga Jos road Mr. Okey Amuka said he has spent more than ten years in Nasrarwa Eggon town and the situation of water crisis has never changed.He said although there are a lot of things the local government needed, that of water is paramount. Amuka said how to get water has been a big challenge to him. He said even he has been depending on water tanker and if not for them by now he would have packed out of the town. The chairman of Nasarawa Eggon local government Haruna Isong Ombuguna when contacted. Meanwhile, Governor Doma has reportedly embarked on a state wide tour to assess the water projects which he awarded sometime last year in Nasarawa Eggon local government. A staff of the local government who pleaded anonymity said even in some villages they do not even have well water not to talk of digging boreholes for the people Meanwhile, the Acting General Manager of Nasarawa water board, Alhaji Ibrahim Safiyanu attributed the delay of the water project at Nasarawa Eggon to be a result of lack of ductile iron pipe. As at the time the governor was inspecting the project in Nasarawa Eggon last year the contractor handling the project complained that they have been having problem importing the ductile pipes to the country . He appealed to the state government to assist them in the clearance of the goods from the ports. The Acting GM said that efforts were in top gear by the state government to ensure adequate water supply in the Angwa Ashimaga and Angwa Kuba. He said over N120 million was budgeted for the contract adding that the project would soon be completed before the year runs out. Already he said Lafia and Doma water supply projects are within 65 percent completion.

Angwa Ashimaga and Angwa Kuba are villages located on the outskirts of Nasarawa Eggon area of Nasarawa state. The two areas unfortunately have since  about 50 years ago been facing chronic water problems.

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