By Gbenga Odogun
Residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, run the risk of being infected with the much dreaded cholera epidemic as public taps dry up for the second week running.
Arewa PUNCH visited several areas around the Lokoja metropolis all through last week to investigate the exact cause of the situation, just as our correspondent encountered more dried up taps in almost all the areas visited.
Some of the areas visited and which are worse hit were – Ganaja village, Army Baracks, Shettima, Crusher, Zone 8, Phase 11, Kpata market, Felele and Gadumo.
Unable to bear the development some of the residents who spoke with Arewa PUNCH appealed to the state government to find a lasting solution to the problem.
One of the residents said, “Lack of potable drinkable water exposes us to the possibility of the cholera epidemic, especially in the traditional areas of Karaworo, Adankolo, and the Kpata market areas.”
Another resident, Bello Jimoh, told our correspondent at Gadumo, a suburb of the state capital, that the water scarcity in the area is life threatening.
The water scarcity was first noticed two weeks ago. This followed an explanation from the General Manager, Kogi State Water Board, Engr Mohammed Sagir, that the scarcity was occasioned by a voltage drop in electricity supply.
Sagir there and then assured that efforts were on to solve the problem.
Two days after Sagir’s promise, water supply was restored, but this was short-lived as the taps went dry again.
Efforts by Arewa PUNCH to speak with the GM Water Board, Sagir, over the latest development proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
However, a reliable source who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity cited a dearth of finance as one of the major factors responsible for the scarcity.
Arewa PUNCH recalls that the state government placed a restriction order on the state and local government accounts two weeks ago, a situation which may be responsible for the present state of water supply to the state capital.
Other stakeholders who also spoke with our correspondent over the water scarcity issue called on the state government to take a second look at its recent freezing of government accounts.
“This is necessary because some strategic government agencies have direct bearing on the life of the public, so they need to access funds for a smooth operation,” the source observed.
Several other sources who spoke with Arewa PUNCH called on the state government to create alternative funding arrangements for such strategic agencies to thrive at all times for the benefit of the people.
Source: The Punch
