Residents of the Shapi neighborhood in Gumbo ward of Kwali Space Council of the FCT have decried the water shortage within the space, pleading with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to come back to their assist by sinking a borehole within the space.
Locals informed Metropolis & Crime that they often battle for water with cows, which regularly drink from their water ponds.
A resident of Shapi, Emma Yakubu, who spoke on Wednesday, when he led our reporter to a close-by stagnant swamp, the place the villagers get their consuming water from.
He mentioned for the reason that existence of the neighborhood over 100 years in the past, there was no borehole in the neighborhood, saying residents have all the time trekked to the swamp to dig out sand to scoop water for home use.
He mentioned he had written severally to the world council authorities to come back to assistance from the villagers by sinking a borehole for them however the plea has not yielded a constructive response from the council.
A lady, Mrs Asabe Daniel, who additionally spoke with our reporter on the stream, mentioned she all the time wakes up as early as 4 am to go to the stream.
“Particularly throughout this dry season, one has to depart dwelling early to go and dig out the swamp and after the water gathered, you’ll now use calabash to fetch,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the absence of a borehole has been the main drawback dealing with the neighborhood, whilst she mentioned cows additionally drink from the swamp.
The chief of the Shapi neighborhood, Etsu Ishaku Ibrahim, additionally expressed concern over the water drawback, including that the village has a inhabitants of over 400 however has no entry to potable water.
He mentioned politicians had been coming to marketing campaign throughout elections over time however they don’t seem to be doing something to assist them thereafter.
“My topics all the time trek to forged votes on the Piri polling unit throughout elections. So, you possibly can think about the space my folks coated to go and forged vote throughout elections just for us to be deserted thereafter,” he mentioned.
He appealed to the FCT administration to come back to assistance from the neighborhood by sinking a borehole to alleviate the struggling of the folks.
Reacting, an official of the works division of the council, who can also be an in depth ally of the council chairman, however most popular anonymity, mentioned the council had already captured a borehole venture for the neighborhood in its 2024 funds.