Water Scarcity Hits Minna, Vandals Blamed

Niger State capital, Minna, has been witnessing scarcity of water following alleged activities of vandals, scrap collectors and thieves who have pilfered some of the installations.

LEADERSHIP gathered that some of those behind the nefarious acts carried out the acts mostly early in the morning under the guise of scavenging for scraps.

It was observed that the water scarcity persisted for over two weeks because the perpetrators tampered with a major water infrastructure supplying water to most parts of the state capital.

Consequently, it was further observed that the residents of Minna rely on water vendors who charge exorbitantly for their service.

Some of the residents interviewed said they spend as much as N3,000 to N5,000 to get 10-jar of water from the vendors.

The commissioner for  Water Resources and Dams Development, Barrister Yahaya Alhassan Gwagwa through the permanent secretary, Akilu Musa Kuta, confirmed  the development while stating that the  government will no longer tolerate any act of sabotage.

He said the state government is mounting tight surveillance around its water-critical infrastructures, which have been damaged by illegal pipe connectors, iron scrap scavengers, and vandals.

He said the government would prosecute those found tampering with state government water properties and equipment and, therefore urged the residents to be vigilant.

According to him, Water and Dams revitalisation programme is top on the “New Niger Agenda” invariably programmed to help drive the green economy and other water body businesses in the state.