From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Following the lingering scarcity of water in Lokoja and its environs in the last four months, the Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, AbdulMunin Danga has given an assurance that government will restore regular supply of potable water soon.
The Commissioner said that the current scarcity of potable in the area would become history in weeks to come.
According to him,the state government is doing everything humanly possible and urgent to rectify the problem.
He gave the assurance over the weekend while speaking with Journalists in Lokoja, on the N10.5 billion water treatment plant,submerged by flood, October, last year.
Our Correspondent recalls that the flood, described as the worst in over 32 years of the creation of kogi state,struck Lokoja, the state capital and other 9 out of the 21 local government areas of the state, leaving in its trail lost of lives and destruction to many public and private facilities.
Our Correspondent also recalls that virtually all public pumps went dry as a result of damage done to the water plant, subjecting the populace to hardship of seeking for water for domestic and commercial activities.
Danga said that the state government was very much eager to repair the water plant, adding that it had ordered for new equipment from the manufacturers for replacement.
He said, “l believe that in the next two weeks, the equipment will arrive and it will not take between four to five days to install them and water will be restored to the metropolis.”
The Commissioner expressed disbelief over the degree of damage done to the water plant by the flood, noting that most of the machines were damaged beyond repairs in the process.
According to him, the state government has no option than ensure their outright replacement, in view of their dire condition.
Danga said that as the state government awaits the arrival of the ordered equipment,it had repaired the Old Lokoja Water Works to enable some parts of Lokoja, such as Kabawa, Karaworo, Pata, Cantonment, Maigari Palace, among others get water on a pilliative basis.
Danga, who said that he held series of meetings with with some leaders, groups and residents in Lokoja on the issue, appealed to them to exercise patient.
Our Correspondent reports that the scarcity of potable water in Lokoja has again brought the limelight, the concept of brother’s keeper, sense of magnanimity and care for one another’s plight, among residents of Lokoja.
While awaiting the return of drinkable water to Lokoja, many owners of borehole and well in the area have opened their gates to those who do not have such facilities, to fetch water without recourse to any attached condition.
At Ganaja and Gadumo, suburbs of Lokoja, house wives and children were seen trooping to neighbours’ houses to solicit for water and were granted permission with ease.
Many of the benefiaries, who acknowledged the magnanimity of their benefactors, described such development as an indication of hope for the attainment of love and unity in Nigeria.
Mrs Anna Olarewaju,who said she had not bought water from vendors since the scarcity of the commodity commenced, commended her neighbour for ensuring that her family did not lack water to carry their domestic chores.
“Honestly, my neighbour has been so generous and wonderful to me and my family, by allowing us and others free access to his compound to fetch water from his borehole,free of charge.
“This singular act shows that, there are many Nigerians who still show concern for the plight of others in the society, by sharing their resources with those in need of assistance to make life meaningful,”she acknowledged.
Olarewaju, however, urged the Commissioner not to renege on his two weeks promise of restoring drinkable water to Lokoja and ensure that the replacement of the water plant take into account, the need to extend water supply to other areas of Lokoja in dire need of such “precious commodity.”