In this article, we will address a hot topic that affects many residential communities: water shortage. Recently, residents of Karu area of Abuja expressed dissatisfaction over the situation which has persisted for over three months.
The water shortage is mainly due to a damaged pipeline that supplies a major water treatment plant in Usuma Dam, located in Bwari Regional Council, FCT. Residents, who do not have a well or water source on their property, find themselves in a desperate situation.
Some even had to buy water to meet their daily needs. This is the case of Modester Ngwu, owner of a hair salon in the village of Karu. She says: “The lack of sufficient water is a big challenge for me, because I am now obliged to buy water. Before, I had a customer who allowed me to collect water from his house. But “With this water shortage, I am forced to buy water from street vendors, which affects my business. Customers will not want to pay more for my services, which makes it difficult for my business to be viable.” .
Ngwu calls on the government to act quickly, stressing that this situation has lasted for more than three months without any concrete measures being taken to resolve it.
Gloria Chijioke, another resident, also expressed frustration over the shortage of water and the high cost of it. Although there is a well dug in the residential complex, the water extracted from it is not clean enough for cooking. She explains: “I use well water to wash my clothes, while I buy sachet water for cooking and drinking. This has significantly increased my expenses over the past three months.”
Chijioke adds that she is now forced to buy water from street vendors for washing because the well has dried up. Additionally, the price of water sold by street vendors has also increased significantly.
The water shortage not only affects residents, but also local small businesses. Musa Nuhu, a laundry worker in Karu, says many customers are complaining about the increasing cost of laundry services, which is also affecting his business.
Faced with this water shortage situation, it is essential that authorities respond quickly to resolve the problem and provide a reliable source of water to Karu residents. This is a vital issue for the health and well-being of the community, as well as for local economic development.
In conclusion, water shortage in Karu area of Abuja significantly affects residents and small businesses. It is crucial that measures are taken to remedy this situation and provide a sufficient and clean source of water to the community. The government and relevant authorities must act quickly to provide relief to residents who have suffered from this water shortage for too long.