The Adonte Community
in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State has appealed to the State Government, to provide potable water in the area.
The Obi (traditional ruler) of Adonte, Emmanuel Offor, told newsmen in Adonte yesterday that his subjects had been without potable water for 24 years.
The traditional ruler said the public water scheme in the community, built by the old Bendel State Government in 1976, had not been functional for 24 years.
“Adonte needs a functional water scheme to ensure regular water supply here. Over the years, potable water has remained a major challenge to us. We spend so much on water. The water scheme provided in 1976 by the then Bendel State Government is no longer functional. The water pump, due to old age, parked up in 1990,” he said.
Offor said that since then, most people in the community had resorted to fetching water from a nearby stream for their daily use.
According to him, the few wealthy individuals who had private boreholes in the community had been exploiting others who bought water from them.
He said: “Most people have resorted to getting water from the nearby streams and ponds, because they cannot afford to buy it from these wealthy ones.
“I am appealing to Delta State Government on behalf of my people to give us a functional water scheme that will provide potable water to us,” he said.
A youth leader in the community, Mr Chucks Okpunor, also told our correspondent that the community lacked access road and the situation had taken its toll on the community.
“Adonte people are predominantly farmers, notable for the production of cassava, yam and oil palm; but due to lack of passable roads, we cannot move our produce to urban centre.