Severe water scarcity has gripped Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, forcing residents across several communities to rely on unsafe and unhygienic sources such as stagnant pools, ponds, and shallow open water bodies for their daily water needs. The crisis has escalated to alarming levels, raising serious public health concerns among the local population.
In many parts of Nasarawa Eggon, residents have been observed scooping muddy, contaminated water tainted with animal waste and debris for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. This dire situation reflects a complete breakdown of public water infrastructure in the area, with boreholes failing and wells drying up.
Adefu Ruth, a resident of Angwan Kuje community, expressed her frustration to DAILY POST, saying, “We’ve not had tap water here for over two months. We now depend on this dirty water because we have no choice.” Her sentiments were echoed by other residents who lamented the absence of clean and accessible water.
Luka Akiwa highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that “We have a Senator and a Commissioner for Water Resources whose residence is just about 400 meters from the site where these people fetch water from holes.” He further criticized local politicians, including a House of Assembly member and a councilor, for campaigning in the area but failing to address the water crisis.
Jane Albert, another resident, described the water as foul-smelling and changing color daily but said, “Not everyone can afford pure water (sachet water) or travel far distances to fetch clean water.” The scarcity has forced many to make difficult choices between health risks and survival.
Efforts to alleviate the crisis have been limited. At one point, residents struggled to access water from a tanker believed to have been donated by a well-meaning indigene of the community. However, this temporary relief has not addressed the root causes of the water shortage.
Local leaders attribute the crisis to multiple failed boreholes, dried wells, and a general collapse of the water supply system. Despite the urgency, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development in Nasarawa State, Muluku Aggah, who is also an indigene of Nasarawa Eggon, has yet to publicly address the situation. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, and a visit to the ministry revealed he was not on seat.
A staff member of the ministry, who preferred anonymity, acknowledged awareness of the crisis and said efforts were underway to repair some faulty boreholes. However, no definite timeline was provided for restoring water supply to affected communities.
The water scarcity in Nasarawa Eggon underscores a broader challenge faced by many rural communities in Nigeria, where inadequate infrastructure, poor maintenance, and limited government intervention exacerbate access to safe water. The situation also highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management policies and investments to prevent public health disasters.
As residents continue to depend on unsafe water sources, the risk of waterborne diseases and other health complications looms large. The crisis calls for immediate attention from government authorities, community leaders, and development partners to provide clean, reliable water and safeguard the well-being of Nasarawa Eggon’s population.
