By Correspondent in Lokoja.
For three weeks going, water pumps in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, remained dry due to unabated scarcity of potable water, thus forcing an increase in the demand for table water, The Reporters,an online publication reports.
Our Correspondent in Lokoja reports that most residents who spoke on the issue on Saturday, in separate interview, described the developmnt as unacceptable of a state capital with high population of people and with so many businesses with potable water as one of the essential commodities of operations.
Malam Mohammed Lawal,Mr Christopher Abimiku, Mr Lawrence Taiwo,Okatahi Aliyu, and Hajia Ramatu Ibrahim, residing at various locations in Lokoja, said the scarcity of the commodity had brought untold hardship to them and their families.
“For the past two weeks, I have been buying sachet water for drinking, in some instances for cooking, and resorting to well water for washing and to accomplish domestic activities. Needless saying this is not healthy enough for the public.
“It is high time the state government found lasting solution to this problem that is fast becoming a recurring decimal with telling effects on the social and economic life of the people, “Hajia Ramatu said.
Okatahi, who said that he had bore hole in his house ask, ” but what about those who don’t have such facility in their houses,what should they do, your guess as good as mine.”
Other residents specifically called on the State Ministry of Water Resources to do something urgent and positive too,about the problem, with a view to saving the populace from agony being experienced.
In another development, sellers of table water, a commodity popularly called “pure water”, described the scarcity as blessing in disguise to their business, adding that it has boosted sales, turnover, increased profit and the smile to their banks.
“Though I am not happy that Lokoja is going through scarcity of potable water at the moment but such is life.The phenomenon has led to increase in the demand for my product with attendant improved sales, Richard Akintola, one the sellers of pure water in Lokoja told our correspondent.
Efforts by the online news media to seek the reaction of relevant government agencies, to comment on the issue,proved abortive.
