– We Don’t Have Control Over Water Merchants – GM, Water Board
-Truck Of Water Sell For N1,000; 5000 Liter Tank Of Water Sells Between N12,000 And N25,000
Water scarcity has hit Makurdi, the Benue State capital like never before. For the first time in many years, a truck of water, containing ten 20 liter gallons ‘jerry cans’ of water is being sold by “Mai Ruwa” (the commercial water sellers) at the cost of N1,000.
It invariably means that a gallon of a 20 liter jerry can, is sold at the N100, a situation that has reached an all time high, since the creation of Benue state.
On the other hand we noted that an 8000 or 9000 liters tanker of water is sold to the water merchants at the cost of N3,000 at the Water Board office, situated by the riverside, that is inclusive of Union dues and payment to Inland Waters.
But, on a daily basis, across the length and breath of Makurdi, the state capital; morning and evening, you see women and children bearing basins and jerry cans, walking distances in search of water.
The economic situation has made matters worse, because, before now, when water was affordable, most residents would buy water, but with the soaring cost, the little cash available to them are channeled to other pressing needs.
However, some of the residents we spoke said, that it has not been easy to meet their basic needs, not to mention buying water, adding that some of them are at the mercy of their neighbors who allow them to fetch the water from their boreholes.
They also noted that due to the dry season, some of the boreholes do not have adequate water, therefore, the owners have put restrictions as to when and the quantity of water they are allowed to fetch per time.
While a 5000 or 4000 liter (gee pee) tank of water is sold to the public between N12,000 and N14,000, depending on the distance, those with Water factories are buying the same quantity of water, between N15,000 to N25,000; this also depends on the distance between the point of purchase and point of sale.
It was reported that individuals (not sachet water factories) around North Bank, International market road, Gboko road, as well as Otukpo road (Kanshio axis) are paying from N14,000 and above for a 5000 or 4000 liter tank of water, while those in the High-level area, are paying about N12,000 and slightly above, for the same quantity.
It also takes an average of two to four days, unless on special arrangement to have a customer supplied water. This also depends on the disposition of the supplier, and in some cases it is also determined by how much the customer can pay and how desperate the customer is.
But in some instances, the pressure a customer exerts on the supplier may yield the desired results, particularly when the customer goes to the point of purchase and stays vigil. Even at that, the customer has to spend between two to four hours before he gets supplied.
Even though, our Correspondent spoke to some of the drivers of the water tanks, they refused to divulge to us the needed information to compile our reports.
However, we gathered that some staff of Water Board and those that sell water are feeding fat on the situation, while the ordinary man is groaning under the yoke of water scarcity and the high cost that comes with it.
While our investigations revealed that most of the water tankers are owned by the Board are also in a dysfunctional state, we gathered that some of the water tankers that sell water to residents are owned by staff of the Board.
When we sought to confirm reasons for the high cost in sale of water in Makurdi, the General Manager, Benue State Water Board, Engr Daniel Okanche said the Board sell water to the tanker owners at a controlled price.
He however noted that the Board does not have control over the activities of owners of the water tankers.
He said, “We don’t have control over them. We don’t have control over what they do outside of Water Board. But we sell to them at a very low and control prices.”
Therefore, residents have appealed to Government to resume work on the reticulation of water in Makurdi, adding that it would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people.
Some have also called on Government to purchase more tankers in order to break the monopoly tanker owners have over the sale of water in Makurdi.
