Water is life, but throughout the history of Abuja, there was never a time the city faced a water crisis such as is being experienced by residents, especially in Kubwa, Airport Road and Gwagwalada for the past two weeks.
There appears no treatment with alum, a vital ingredient, as well as other chemicals, in the water presently being supplied to residents. The residents of Gwako village destroyed the newly repaired facility in their village, which led to the Kubwa water shortage.
There is also a burnt compressor, the equipment that supplies water from the main dam to the Treatment Plant 1. This is coming on the heels of the just repaired Treatment Plants 2 and 3 built by BiWater, and the authorities may not even be aware of. There is lack of enlightenment on the part of the FCT Water Board management.
The general fear now is the outbreak of water-related diseases, especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be disastrous, and an indication of failure of the government.
The Board of Directors of the FCT Water Board has recommended to the FCT Minister, Mal. Musa Bello, that the former GM Engr. Aliyu Usman Abubakar Kumo, who is competent enough, be retained as substantive GM. The board is led by no other person as chairman than the erstwhile GM of the Water Board, former President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and also past President of Council for Regulation of Engineers (COREN), Engr. Kassim Ali. He should know.
Engr. Kumo left office as Ag. General Manager, FCT Water Board following his retirement in October 2020.
The FCT minister should therefore, act quickly on the recommendation of the Kassim Ali-led Board of Directors by bringing back Engr. Kumo to take charge of the FCT Water Board.
Stephen Omeregie wrote from Bwari, Abuja
