Bauchi residents lament water scarcity

Residents of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State, have decried the lack of water supply in the last two weeks, saying it has caused them untold hardship.

A resident, Mr Emma Alex, expressed concern about the water scarcity, saying the situation could result in outbreak of diseases if something was not done urgently by the state.

Mrs Aisha Mohammmed, a resident of Wuntin Dada on the outskirts of the Bauchi metropolis, said the situation had forced people to depend mostly on those selling water in jerry cans, popularly called “mai ruwa”, noting that the price of water per a 20-litre jerry can had risen from N200 to N400.

Mustapha Isa, a resident of Dutsen Tanshi, said they had been experiencing water shortage since May, without prior notice from concerned authorities.

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Another resident, Rayyanu Wahu, of Durumi Biyu, Nassarawa Jahun, said that for ten days running there had not been water supply, noting that the situation required urgent government attention.

In his reaction, the Managing Director (MD) of the Bauchi State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSUWSC), Mr Aminu Gital, attributed the situation to lack of power supply from the electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) serving the state.

Gital said that the corporation was currently finding ways of resolving the scarcity with relevant authorities, calling on the citizens to be patient, assuring that water would soon be available.

He, however, urged the residents to always pay their water bills directly to the corporation or its accredited agents in their respective areas to enable it serve them better. (NAN)