,,,,Call on new Commissioner for Water Resources to expedite action.
By Dawud Ahmed in Lokoja.
Residents of Lokoja, Kogi State capital, north central Nigeria, have called on the new Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Farouk Muhammed Yahaya Danladi, to do everything within his power ensure speedy return of drinkable water to the area.
They made the call on Wednesday in a separate interview with our correspondent in Lokoja.
According to them,the call became important in view of the biting effects of the two-month-old scarcity of clean water in Lokoja and the attendant efforts on their social and economic activities.
The residents lamented that the scarcity had subjected them to untold hardship such as resorting to drinking unhygienic water from River Niger,streams as well as put them at the mercy of bow hole and well owners.
They added that some of their benefactors have started complaining of being overstretched by their request for water to meet their daily domestic activities.
Finding by our correspondent indicates that those using public water for commercial purposes are not finding it easy too as they, note that the problem had slowed down their enterprises, increase and profit in many ways.
Some residents of Gadumo quarters, said to be worse hit by the scarcity, called on the commissioner to specially beam his search light on the possibility of evolving durable method of securing funds for the purchase of chemicals for the treatment of water.
According to Mal. Karim Mohammed, experience has shown that the Greater Lokoja Water has no problem in terms of equipment, adding that its greatest headache is inadequate funding.
He assured the commissioner that once the public is sure of constant water supply by the board, they would be morally bound to pay monthly water bill,as and when due, to boost the revenue profile of the board for effective service.
A reliable source at the State Water board, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the commissioner had toured the various sections of the organization with a view to having full knowledge of the problem.
The source expressed optimism that that from the look of things,coupled with the efforts being made by the commissioner to overcome funding challenge facing the board, the residents would soon have constant supply of drinkable water restored in their homes.
