Yuletide: Enugu residents decry rising cost of drinking water

Residents of Enugu metropolis have decried the high cost of drinking water in parts of the city just as Christmas festivities are approaching.

Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday showed that efforts being made by the state government to provide potable drinking water are yet to yield the desired results.

NAN further reports that many of the water galleries built in parts of the city by the government have remained dry.

NAN reports that a truck with a 500-gallon tank of water that used to sell for between N10,000 and N12,000 now goes for between N13,000 and N15,000 depending on the area.

Investigation also revealed that a water of 750- gallon tank of water sells for between N16,000 and N18,000.

Also, in some parts of the city, a 25-litre gallon of drinking water sells for N300, while well water used for cooking is sold for between N50 and N70.

Speaking to NAN, a water tanker driver, Mr. Eugene Nwangene attributed the development to a combination of factors, including the high cost of transport and increased revenues.

A resident of Abakpa Nike, Mr. Steve Osuji, said he was surprised that water scarcity still persisted in Enugu city.

“The government has promised to provide water to Enugu residents within 180 days of the commencement of its administration yet we are faced with scarcity, ” he said.

A resident of the Akwuke area of Awkunanaw, Mrs. Mercy Okeke, said that the water situation in the area was the same as it had always been.

“We buy water as usual; for example, a 25 liter of drinking water is N300, while well water is either N50 or N60, while some sell N70.

“As the dry season is setting in, many wells are already drying up and as usual, we are resorting to buying from water tankers,” Okeke said.

Okeke appealed to the state government to do something to end the perennial water scarcity facing the people.

It is also a similar situation in Independence Layout, Transekulu, Emene and Achara Layout, as many residents have resorted to commercial water tankers to get water.

Mrs. Chigozie Ude, who lives in Independence Layout, said she spent N40,000 on a full tanker of 2,000 gallons every two weeks, saying that it had not been easy for her and her household.

“I spend N80,000 every month on water alone, as against N60,000 I spend during the dry season because I use my well during the rainy season.

“It is difficult to dig a borehole in Enugu because of the topography, as the soil is covered with coal, which is not healthy. So, I am appealing to the state government to intensify efforts in providing water for the people of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Peter Mbah has assured the people that his administration was doing all it could to bring water to the doorsteps of the residents.

Mbah reiterated this assurance on provision of water during his quarterly town hall meeting with Enugu State residents held over the weekend.

He said that the government had signed a partnership agreement with the Watson Nestor company, which had injected $100 million to help modernise the water scheme project.

The governor disclosed that while the company takes care of technical areas, the state government would take care of the production of water.

According to him, the company will replace the old pipes, take water to the door steps of the residents and provide meters.

Gov. Mbah explained that the payment of the water rate would be 20 per cent less than what residents were spending on purchasing water.