By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
Residents of Idu-Koro, New Karmo, Old Karmo and neighbouring communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern over worsening water scarcity following a month-long disruption of public water supply.
The residents through the Village Head of Idu-Koro, Chief Mohammed Makama, and the Village Head of Karmo Sabo, Umar Gani Sarkin Karmo, have consequently appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration to act fast.
They said the prolonged interruption of pipe-borne water had forced households to depend entirely on boreholes, raising concerns about the safety of water available for drinking and other domestic uses.
According to them, despite living in the nation’s capital, access to clean and safe water had become a major challenge, with no satisfactory explanation from the relevant authorities regarding the disruption.
They said some of the borehole water available in the communities has unpleasant tastes and odours, prompting fears that it may not be suitable for consumption without proper treatment.
The situation, they said, had also increased the hardship faced by women and children, who spend long hours sourcing water for cooking, bathing, washing and other household activities.
They warned that continued dependence on potentially contaminated water could expose residents to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoeal infections.
Children, elderly persons and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to health complications associated with unsafe drinking water.
The traditional rulers warned that the authorities should not wait until residents suffer a disease outbreak before addressing the situation, urging FCT Water board to intervene.
They stressed that access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic necessity and urged the relevant agencies to identify the cause of the disruption and provide a lasting solution to the scarcity.
