By Dada Ahmed, Lokoja.
The Kogi Central Think Tank Forum (KCTTF), Lokoja has called on the Kogi State Government to muster the Political Will needed to provide a lasting solution to the decades-long problem of potable water scarcity in Egbiraland.
Rising from its monthly Executive Council meeting held on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Lokoja, the Forum lamented that the lingering water crisis in the area was not due to any geographical challenge but a lack of strong commitment from successive governments of Kogi State.
The group noted that Egbiraland is blessed with two major dams :Ekuku and Osara both of which have adequate water resources that could serve the entire population if properly harnessed.
The Forum urged the Ohinoyi of Egbiraland and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to work together to explore practical and sustainable measures that would permanently address the water problem.
According to the Forum, the government possesses sufficient human and financial resources to effectively address the problem.
KCTTF advised other top government officials from Kogi Central to also make meaningful contributions toward changing the narrative of water scarcity in the area.
The group expressed confidence that solving the water challenge would enhance the social and economic wellbeing of residents and help curb insecurity in the state.
The meeting commended Governor Ododo for the recent distribution of transformers across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that the move would ginger rural development and curb insecurity.
Prince Haruna Yusuf,who made contribution to the issue through Okengwe Development Association Social media platforms,suggested various ways to solve the problem.
He said:” It is quite simple to resolve the problem through the resuscitation of Okuku and Osara Dams. In addition, the Okene township water works can be revived as well by methods of dredging and expanding it’s capacity to hold larger volume of water than heretofore.
” And this can be done through the appropriate water engineering technique where a channel into the large reservoir of water laying beneath Okene-Egba hill is dug to allow the controlled water flow into the water work’s storage facility .
“This will allow for chemical treatment and further distribution through the pipe lines meant for the purpose.
“This proposal may be part of the request to TPE of Russia to assist the host community of ASCO to obtain portable drinking water in the near future.”
