Water Scarcity Hits Makurdi

There is currently scarcity of water in Makurdi, Benue State capital and its environs.

Gatekeepers New s reports that residents fear that the water scarcity may lead to a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases in the town and other neighbouring communities.

The affected areas are; Wadata, Demekpe, High Level, Achussa, Nyima, Kanshio, Welfare Quarters, Wurukum, North Bank, Gyado Villa and the highbrow Judges Quarters.

Correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who went round the state capital on Thursday reports that water vendors were having a filled day, as a result of the scarcity.

It was gathered that the situation has been made worse by some water vendors who, in a bid to make brisk money now take water directly from River Benue to sell to unsuspecting consumers.

Residents have reportedly resorted to buying water from water tankers and some individual water vendors who buy in large quantities from water tankers and retail to consumers.

Water rates have been hiked as a 20 litre jerry can of water, formerly sold for N20, now costs N30, while 1,000 litre water tank sold for N3,000 before now goes for N3,500.

A resident of Wadata, Doofan Igba who spoke to NAN, said that for years, they had no access to pipe-borne water because their area was not connected.

Igba who explained that she had lived in Wadata for over 15 years and never had access to water, urged the government to reticulate the area.

Also, Iember Eze, a resident of Demekpe, said over time, they had been surviving on either water from the well or water from vendors.

Eze said that even water vendors had hiked the price, adding that not all residents could afford the price.

The General Manager, Benue State Water Board, Gideon Shenge, while reacting, said most residents refused to pay water bills within the state capital and were disconnected.

Shenge said that the board was pumping water regularly to areas that were reticulated.

He said until the whole capital city was reticulated, many parts of the town would not have access to water, especially the new layouts.