Kertyo Community Cries Out as Water Scarcity Threatens Lives and Livelihoods

By Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia.

Residents of Kertyo community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have issued an urgent appeal to government authorities and well-meaning individuals to intervene in the area’s worsening water crisis, which they say is threatening health, economic survival, and overall development.

The distress call came during a well-attended peace and development meeting of Tiv stakeholders, convened to address issues affecting the unity and progress of the Tiv people in the state.

While security and social cohesion featured in discussions, the overwhelming concern was the community’s acute lack of potable water.

Speaking on behalf of participants, Dr. Felix Upav-Saaior, a lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia, described the situation as dire, noting that Kertyo,home to more than 10,000 residents,has no functional government borehole.

“This is a precarious situation that threatens the survival of our people. We are appealing to the Obi Local Government, the Nasarawa State Government, NGOs, and corporate bodies to urgently provide safe drinking water,”he said.

The don explained that the meeting was part of periodic efforts by Tiv leaders to assess their collective challenges and chart solutions, especially for agrarian communities already grappling with insecurity from farmer-herder conflicts.

However, he stressed that water scarcity now poses the most immediate threat to daily life.

Residents shared harrowing accounts of trekking long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources, a burden they said has disproportionately affected women and children and limits farming, trading, and schooling activities.

The President of Tiv Development Association (TIDA), Comrade Simeon-Apusu, who opened the session, emphasized the need for unity and collective action, assuring that the association remains committed to promoting peace, socio-economic growth, and mutual support among Tiv people across Nasarawa State.

A Community member Jor Usa, praised the platform for encouraging dialogue and cooperation, urging residents to remain law-abiding while contributing actively to local development efforts.

Former Obi LGA Council Secretary, Thomas Asongu, also commended the initiative and called for respect for constituted authorities as a pathway to attracting government attention.

The gathering further witnessed the inauguration of Hon. Atimism Philip as President of the Tiv Youth Organization (TYO), alongside other newly elected TIDA executives,an event participants described as a sign of renewed hope for stronger youth involvement in community affairs.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
–National Update.

Stakeholders concluded the meeting with a unified resolution to intensify advocacy for essential infrastructure, particularly clean water, while strengthening collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions, and development partners.

For the people of Kertyo, however, the message was simple and urgent: without safe water, meaningful development remains out of reach.

Residents expressed hope that their collective voice will finally spur decisive action to end years of neglect and bring relief to a community longing for dignity, health, and progress.
— National Update.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.