Kano Water Crisis: Residents Suffer as Gov’t Promises Relief
By Ibrahim Kasimu Dadi, Sadiat Omotanwa Ajayi, Shamsiya Shitu Yahaya, Fatima Binta Idris and Aisha Ndanusa Ibrahim
The lingering water scarcity in Kano state metropolis has persisted, and its impact on people’s daily lives is profound. Most families are struggling to access clean water for basic needs like cooking, cleaning, and bathing. While there are no easy solutions to the problem, residents are echoing their pleas to authorities concerned for intervention.
In Na’ibawa (Tsigirgirin Makama), Malam Abubakar Muhammad Abdulsalam disclosed to Prime Time News correspondent that the last time he saw government water in his tap was eight to nine years ago. He further lamented that the water scarcity in Na’ibawa has forced many households to go to far-distance locations in search of water, which is not only inconvenient but also stressful.
Muhammad narrated that before the water scarcity struck, the Kano state water board used to supply water to them twice a week. He added that he normally sees water mostly in the morning at around 10:00 am and sometimes 3:00 pm.
“I want the government to take necessary action to address this scarcity of water because it is a big disaster. They should please respond to this call and solve the problem.” He said.
Another resident from Zoo Road, Sheka, Malama Fauziyyah Muhammad, narrated that in her location, they don’t know anything about government tap water because they don’t even have taps in their areas. Instead, they use borehole water, which is the only available option in the area for a long time now.
Fauziyyah made a passionate plea to the state government to help them bring taps to their area so that they can start getting tap water, as they are seriously suffering without it. “All we see here in Sheka is borehole water, and it comes only when there’s power supply, and the light is not frequent, which is also a major obstacle.” She said.
In Kuntau, another community in Gwale local government, a resident, Fiddausi Jibril, explained that she has never seen a water shortage in Kano like this in her life.
According to her, sometimes they used to manage 25 liters jerry can daily to cook, bathe, wash children’s clothes, among other house chores, because the people who are fetching the water from commercial boreholes are nowhere to be found due to poor electricity supply and fuel scarcity, which presently hits most cities in Nigeria.
On his part, Alh. Awwal Aliyu, a resident of Hotoro Maraba, said that it’s been ages since he saw tap water in their area. “If I can recall, the last time I saw tap water in our locality was since the second tenure of Dr. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s regime, which was in 2007.” Alh. Awwal groaned.
“Our main means of sourcing water in this area is through mai ruwa (water vendors).” He said. Alhaji Awwal pleaded with the government to intervene urgently in their plight, as not every household can afford buying water every day, especially when the water price is getting higher daily.
Students Express Their Pain
Students are also not exempted from the water scarcity rocking Kano Metropolis. In Dambare Community, a society largely dominated by students of Bayero University, Kano, are also facing challenges due to the lack of consistent government water supply.
According to Abdulrahman Marzouq, a student at BUK and a resident of Dambare, he said access to government water has been non-existent since he moved to the area. “The community relies on individuals who can afford to dig boreholes on their property,” Marzouq explained.
“However, even this water source is unreliable. It only flows when there’s electricity, and when the power goes out, we’re forced to purchase water from vendors (Deboruwa).”
Marzouq further emphasized the financial burden this situation creates. “Buying water every day is expensive. A single keg costs 80 Naira, and it’s not even enough for two baths a day. This is especially difficult for students and less privileged residents who are already struggling to make ends meet” he said.
He urged the government to take action, stating, “Water is essential for life. Without it, basic daily activities become a challenge.”
Isa Ramota Bisola, another resident, echoed Marzouq’s concerns. “I haven’t seen government water since I moved here,” she said.
Bisola proposed a solution: “The government could install a basic borehole in the central part of Dambare and support it with a generator. Even if the residents have to contribute fuel for the generator to power it, it would be a significant improvement.”
State Government Reacts
The Managing Director, Kano state water board, Engineer Garba Ahmad Bichi, briefed the press in a press conference at the Kano state water board’s head office. The press conference was a result of the persistent agitation and cry of the people of Kano on the water scarcity.
According to Bichi, the shortage of water in Kano, particularly in some axis of Kano metropolis, was due to the shutdown of the Tamburawa water plant.
Garba disagreed with the agitation of people that the entire Kano metropolis does not have water.
“Tamburawa water plant is one of the five water plants in Kano state that was established in 2011; others are Challawa water plant established in 1931, and the remaining two water plants were established in 1974 and 1991. All these three water plants are supplying water, but because of the shutdown of the Tamburawa water plant, people are saying that the whole of Kano metropolis is not having water, this is not true”.
Engr. Bichi argued that the only affected places are Na’ibawa, Ungwa Uku, part of Federal Government College Kano, and Kundila Housing Estate; as well as Tarauni, Gyadi Gyadi, and Nasarawa local government areas. “Surely, these areas for more than two weeks now are not enjoying portable water from the Kano state water board.”
“I believe we took eight to nine months supplying water to these areas without any interruption before the shutdown of the Tamburawa water plant. So we will make sure that water is back to Tamburawa axis to continue to access portable water from the Kano state water board, and we want to apologize to the people of this axis; it is not our willingness to leave them without water.” He said.
Prime Time News gathered that the Kano State Water Board aims to practice an effective and efficient water supply management and to provide the Urban and Semi-Urban areas (small towns) in the State with the required portable table water for both domestic and industrial purposes in order to reduce waterborne diseases, poverty, and increase productivity of the citizens.
The MD revealed that the plan is geared towards being a world-class agency in providing potable and sustainable water supply to every household and industry in Kano state.
Garba is, however, pleading with the affected areas to exercise patience, and he is assuring them that the state government, under the courtesy of the Kano state governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, is working tirelessly to fix the problem soon.
Prime Time News, however, gathered from residents and reports that it is clear that action must be taken to address the issue. This could include measures such as investing in critical infrastructure like water, thereby promoting water conservation and implementing policies that prioritize availability of water for vulnerable populations. As lack of reliable water access is impacting residents’ quality of life and increasing their financial strain.
