Kano residents bemoan water scarcity, exploitation by water vendors

The water scarcity which defied all solutions in Kano and its environs has continued to make life unbearable for the residents.

This has led to water vendors exploiting residents by hiking prices of the commodity.

For instance a 25-litre jerrycan goes for between N150 and N200 as against N50 and N70 before now.

Areas affected by the scarcity include Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Nassarawa and Ungogo, whose residents largely depend on supply from the State Water Board, boreholes drilled by the government and philanthropists.

Some of the residents described the water scarcity as very unfortunate considering the huge amount being spent by the state on provision of water.

One Sani Ado who lives in Kano municipality, said he spends about N1,400 daily to buy water for his family’s domestic needs.

He said, “I am not supposed to spend my hard-earned money on water, since there is a government in power which is supposed to supply me with the commodity, but I am constrained to resort to this self-help since the government water is not forthcoming. “

Another resident, Abdullahi Lawan, said, “I go out every morning looking for government boreholes or outlets provided by individuals from where to fetch water because I cannot afford to buy the commodity from water vendors at exorbitant prices.

“This routine is traumatic for me, because I sacrifice many hours looking for water, hours that I should spend to find money for my family’s upkeep.”

Sulaiman Gambo, laundry man, said he spends about N3, 000 daily on water to wash customers’ clothes.

The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Ali Makoda, had however, said the government was working round-the-clock to ensure availability of water in the eight metropolitan local governments.

“We are working tirelessly to fix the issue of prevailing water scarcity in the state capital and its environs, and in a couple of days, the problem will be over,” he said.