The South-South region of Nigeria grapples with a dire water crisis as public water supply systems collapse, and projects remain abandoned. Most public water schemes must be fixed in states like Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, leaving communities parched and reliant on unsustainable alternatives.
The situation in Bayelsa state epitomizes the neglect of water infrastructure. Once, under the tenure of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, there was a semblance of a functioning water supply system. However, subsequent administrations failed to maintain it. The plight worsened during Senator Seriake Dickson’s tenure, with road construction projects destroying existing water pipes, exacerbating the crisis.
Residents of Yenagoa, Bayelsa’s capital, face the brunt of this negligence. The State Water Board lies defunct, forcing citizens to resort to expensive alternatives like purchasing water from vendors. Privileged individuals install private boreholes, while the majority grapple with unreliable water access, often contaminated and costly due to reliance on diesel-powered boreholes.
Similar tales of despair unfold across the region. In Akwa Ibom State, once lifelines for communities, public water stations now lie in ruins due to successive administrations’ neglect. Despite promises of restoration, residents endure erratic supply and must resort to self-help measures like borehole drilling.
Challenges persist even in areas fortunate enough to have a public water supply, such as Uyo, the state capital. Boreholes collapse due to unfriendly soil formations, exacerbating the reliance on public water infrastructure, which suffers from breakdowns and inefficiencies.
Rivers State mirrors this narrative of broken promises and abandoned projects. Despite allocations for water initiatives, including a $6 billion project in Ogoni, communities still need access to clean water. The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) laments the government’s inaction and calls for urgent intervention to address decades of environmental degradation and water scarcity.
Delta State, too, grapples with neglected water infrastructure. Once-functional reservoirs lie dormant, leaving communities dependent on private boreholes or unreliable public schemes. Efforts to rehabilitate these projects are marred by contractor abandonment and bureaucratic hurdles.
In Ndokwa East, Delta State, communities like Akarai-Obodo plead for government intervention to reactivate industrial boreholes damaged by the 2012 flood. Despite repeated appeals, residents continue to suffer, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
Amidst these challenges, voices like that of Alagoa Morris in Bayelsa echo the call for integrated water supply systems and expert-driven solutions. Governments must prioritize water infrastructure investment, leveraging technology and sustainable practices to ensure equitable access to clean water for all citizens.
As Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa pledges to address water distribution challenges and officials in Akwa Ibom express optimism for the sector’s revival, hope flickers for a brighter future. Yet, action must transcend rhetoric, with concrete steps taken to restore and expand water infrastructure, leaving no community parched or neglected.
The water crisis plaguing Nigeria’s South-South region demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from governments, stakeholders, and communities alike. Only through collective action can the tide be turned and the fundamental human right to water be upheld for generations.
