Some residents of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged government at all levels to provide Nigerians with portable water to address water scarcity in the country.
The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with newsmen recently in Abuja.
The appeal is coming against the backdrop of water scarcity being experienced in major cities across the country.
Miss Victoria Adeola, an Abuja resident, said the provision of potable water for the citizenry would help ameliorate their suffering.
“I want government to go back to those days where there was tap water everywhere, but now you see boreholes everywhere and not everybody can afford a boreholes.
“When we were small, there used to be government water everywhere.
“You paid for it like NEPA bill, so we want government to go back to days where they will be the ones to provide the basic amenities like water.
“So government should please look into this, they should provide water on streets as it used to be so that everybody will not depend on this private boreholes.’’
Another resident, Mr Stephen Umoren, suggested that rural dwellers needed special attention in the provision of the social amenity to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
“I think the rural areas need special attention in terms of water provision, if you come to cities like Abuja, Lagos and the rest, you see that government tries to provide water to some extent.
“But people in the rural areas use streams and other source of water that are not really hygienic and water is life.
“If you have access to potable water, to a large extent it is like you are taking medicine it can prevent certain illnesses.
“So we prevail on government to give special attention to the provision of essential amenities like water to the rural areas so that the issue of diseases can be reduced.’’
Another resident, Mr Lawrence Ekanem, described the lack of portable water to most Nigerians as worrisome.
“Yes, the issue of water is quit challenging. In my youthful age, I can remember that we used to go out to fetch water from public taps that were provided by government.
“But now it is very hard for you to see public taps on streets, which is the reason why we have scarcity of water everywhere.
“And except the Nigerian government goes back to that age, scarcity of water will not be curtailed.’’