Residents of Obi Local Government Area in Benue State have decried persistent water scarcity in their villages, saying that the situation is affecting their lives negatively.
Many residents who spoke to WikkiTimes recounted their daily struggles and appealed to authorities to come to their rescue.
Ernest Ogireji, a community health worker, through sniffles and sobs, narrated the struggles of communities due to persistent water shortages. He characterized the situation, with a punctuated tone, as a “long-standing problem.”
“The severe water scarcity plaguing Ijegwu, Opirikwu, Okpokwu, Itakpa, Adega, Obijago, and Okpaga communities within Obi LGA is adversely impacting the lives of the residents,” he explained, with visible concern etched onto his face.
Situated in south-central Benue State, encompassing 195 square kilometers, Obi LGA is primarily inhabited by the Igede people and numerous other ethnic groups.
The situation forces residents to extreme measures, with many embarking on arduous treks on foot, using wheelbarrows, bicycles, and motorcycles.
Others, fortunate enough to own cars, drive to obtain water from the streams situated in the adjacent communities of Ugbodom and Obarike.
While some residents, like the Ogireji family, have found a limited solution, as they dug a well in their house, they are not prepared for the water quality: “We just endure the water quality we get from the well,” he responded, his monosyllabic words accompanied by forlorn gestures.
Opiori Ekpo Joseph, a resident and an eyewitness, noted that the elderly bear the heaviest burden. “It’s reached the point where old women are forced to walk approximately 20 kilometers in search of potable water!” Joseph lamented.
Beyond the challenge of simply accessing water, the poor quality of water they struggle to access poses a significant concern. Joseph highlighted the dire situation, noting that even after lengthy journeys, some return empty-handed. The water’s quality is, to put it mildly, unacceptable.
“The purity and quality of the water obtained is rarely a consideration,” he disclosed, emphasizing that access to water is viewed as a miracle.
WikkiTimes’ investigation confirms that people often go without bathing for three days.
Beyond Complaining
Despite a growing population, it’s hard to believe residents rely on rainfall. Yet, Alobo James Odee’s account, conveyed in a whispery voice, paints a bigger picture.
James explained that the rainfall follows a distinct pattern of two peaks, with well-defined wet and dry seasons. During the rainy season which started, every drop of water is preserved, regardless of its questionable cleanliness.
This, however, remains insufficient, as James, a resident of Itakpa, points out, “If your neighbours are affluent, your situation would be somewhat better, since they can share their abundance, but that isn’t our case here in Itakpa. We are at the mercy of the sporadic natural rainfall, which isn’t enough for our survival.”
With no other options available, residents resort to collecting water from the muddy, stagnant sources in Ugbodom, enduring both the long distances and challenging weather conditions.
James attributes the water scarcity to a lack of basic infrastructure. “Not even a single borehole to serve a population that is growing by the day,” he lamented.
Regarding governmental response, he noted somberly: “Complaints have been lodged; it’s now far beyond expressing grievances, it’s a plea for help.”
WikkiTimes learned from many sources in communities that residents express their disappointment at the government’s consistent indifference to the recurring water shortage.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, water scarcity and its consequences affect over 40% of the global population, with increasing temperatures and projections for possible growth.
“By 2050, it is expected that at least one in four people will endure consistent water shortages,” the UNDP stated as it canvassed for support the Sustainable Development Goal 6, which prioritizes clean water and sanitation.
Furthermore, Upelle Blessing Oberi, a local female resident, said the women are the most vulnerable. “The lack of water creates difficulties for washing and maintaining cleanliness during menstruation,” she said, her voice filled with tears.
Recalling her own childhood experiences, a female resident who spoke confidentially with WikkiTimes shared, “Growing up, I endured these hardships firsthand, and no solution is in sight. The most painful part is having to go great distances for water, even if it’s unclean, as long as it’s water.
She noted that people would share one bucket of water, as young children take part in the difficult task of seeking water.
“Everyone learned how to push a wheelbarrow,” she remembered, with a weary voice. “You won’t be surprised to find a young child pushing a wheelbarrow with three or four jerrycans, because they are educated in these matters— they have no other choice but to go far to find water.”
She continued by saying, “These have been the issues we have experienced over the years, and despite government pledges, our calls are ignored, and our people continue to suffer.”
She believes that if the government intervenes and installs a borehole, the area could have running water throughout the year.
All attempts by WikkiTimes to reach Hon. Silas Ahonye Ode, the Executive Chairman of Obi LGA, for a comment proved futile. As of the time of the press, his media aide had not yet responded to the messages WikkiTimes sent via WhatsApp.
