By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Following the vandalisation of water facilities by hoodlums, Plateau state is experiencing water scarcity as residents struggle with animals before they can scoop water from streams.
Another reason the state is experiencing water scarcity is because of the hilly nature of most communities in Plateau State, the Vanguard reports.
This has subjected residents of such communities to acute water shortage, forcing some communities, especially in the Southern zone of the state, to share their water sources with animals which, incidentally, are also in dire need of the scarce commodity.
These communities have devised many means to mitigate their sufferings, but their efforts are futile as their improvised water sources such as hand pump and solar-powered boreholes and wells often dry up during the dry season, prompting the residents, especially women and children, to walk many kilometres in search of water for household use.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Water Board, Nangur Ndam, told Arewa Voice: “We are still battling with the issue of vandalism, especially with this dry season farming as the hoodlums continue to break our pipes and divert water to their farms.
“Last week, we discovered one at Liberty Dam Road, off Bauchi Ring Road, where water was diverted to a very large rice farm barely two weeks after another one was discovered behind NASCO, by Old Airport Junction.
“Officials of NSCDC arrested some suspects but some powerful people came begging that they should be freed since they were first-time offenders. That is unacceptable. They signed some documents and any further breach would lead to prosecution.”
Ndam noted that some car wash operators were also caught in the illicit act of sabotage.
Governor Simon Lalong, who visited one of the vandalised water projects along Rayfield-Bukuru Road, warned that henceforth, any vandal caught tampering with water facilities in the state would be seriously dealt with as a criminal.