The unending water scarcity in Enugu

There is no gainsaying the fact that the global import of water cannot be overemphasised. Water takes position number six in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly designates 22 March as World Water Day. Suffice it to restate the popular aphorism that water is life.

However, this essential friend in every home, offices and markets is in short supply in Enugu State. The worst case scenarios are witnessed during the dry season. Every dry season, most poor residents of the Coal City metro must find themselves in this annual phenomenal tragedy.

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For those in rural areas; water scarcity has become a way of life. From Obiagu to Abakpa Nike; Uwani to Garki; Emene to New Haven; Nsukka to Agwu, the tales are the same. No water! Ndi Enugu are seen desperately clustered at every available source of water for hours and days waiting for this friend.

Those who are mobile but reside in the city centre go to far as Ninth Mile Corner to access water. Others trek for miles in search of same.

Domestic chores are stalled while drinking water is rationed in homes. Bottled and sachets water, for those who can afford, are used in preparing daily meals. Shylock water dispensing tanker owners have taken advantage of the ugly situation to sell at cut-throat rates. A 500 litre tank sells at N5,000  and it barely lasts one week. This invariably means that for one month, families opportune to own tanks have to cough out N20,000 or more on water.

Provision of basic amenities to better the lives of the people are promises and  responsibilities of government. However, these promises are mostly fulfilled in the breach. Bearing this in mind, people have resorted to self-help and community actions by digging wells and boreholes which lack water in the dry season.

Reprieve comes the way of the people during the rainy season but in the dry season, the old wound is reopened. The unending problem of water scarcity in Enugu State is one issue of grave concern. But the challenge seems to have defied the mettle of those in government.

In fact, for too long, one has had cause to endure the patterned sycophancy going on in the governance of Enugu State. From the administration of former governors Chimaroke Nnamani to the government of taciturn Sullivan Chime and now Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the game of deceit is the same. A courtorie of appointees and subservient public have bent backwards for the whims and caprices of the ruling class simply for a plate of porridge. To God be the glory; Enugu is working; Enugu is in the hand of God has been the mantra. One is at a loss how the state could be in the hands of God while the government cannot provide mere potable, pipe-borne water.

Determination and purpose are the things lacking. One continues to hear about the rehabilitation of Oji-River and Ajali water works without commensurate results. What is the position of the World Bank Assisted Water Project started by former governor Sullivan Chime?

As the permutation for the 2023 governorship election in the state begins to gather momentum with politicians arguing and angling  which zone should produce the governor, Ndi Enugu should place water as a political card for electing any candidate.

The next governor of Enugu State should be that man who has a well defined blueprint for tacking the problem of water supply in the state. As it is popularly said, water is life!  Ndi Enugu, make una shine your eyes!

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze can be reached via sunnyeze02 @yahoo.com