By Muhammad Umar Faruk
Water is one of the paramount element of life. It is almost impossible for human beings to survive without it. It is a necessity for drinking, cooking, hygiene and sanitation.
Recently, some trending pictures went viral on social media platforms which showcased the distance and sufferings women and children have to go through to get access to a single bucket of water around the Akko, Amada community, and that have sparked meaningful yet provocative conversations on the serious challenges the community is facing for ages.
Akko Amada community which is located in Akko LGA along the Gombe/ Bauchi road overtime have been facing serious challenges when in comes to accessing potable, clean and healthy water.
In an interview with Malam Balarabe Abdulkadir, a resident of the community, he revealed that for decades the community has been facing serious challenges as it relates to potable water and the main source of water for them has been the juggol pit, he revealed that there are three main sources of water in the community which are Juggol pit, Tolore pit, and Juggal dama pit.
He said, “Most times, we, our children and animals have to match miles away from our the village, just to get drinking and bathing water which sincerely, the neatness or healthiness of the water cannot be acertained.
He noted that the only alternative source of water has been from boreholes around the vicinity, which are transported and sold by tankers coming from byepass, kwadam or kalshingi towns repectively.
Abdulkadir added that because of the hike in diesel and petrol prices, the water is almost unaffordable as it has also increased in price. A 25 litre gallon of water is been sold at 150 naira as opposed 50 naira before.
Citing an example that “if a family unit is to buy only 3 gallons of water it might cost them around 450 naira everyday which is very unsustainable as the community members are predominantly farmers, herders and low income earners.
He also revealed that “It will be very fair to say people who aren’t well to do financially in our community cannot sustain buying water from those water tanker vendors. Only the wealthy families among us are the ones who could afford to purchase water from the nearby reservoirs regularly.”
Balarabe noted that the pit has been in existence for quite a long time and despite having several wells within the community, they still face the challenges of soil water compaction as the wells tend to dry up and it takes time for them to regenerate water because of the frequent consumption, he added that some of the wells are about 40 ft or more which is quite a task to fetch.
Mentioning the number of wells around the vicinity he revealed that one is in front of the chieftains house, another close to the police station likewise the others are northwards from the village. Though they still have a serious challenge accessing them whenever the weather approaches dry season before entering the raining season fully.
He revealed that previous administrations have made promises to provide accessible water in the community which failed, and “we have written several times, and forwarded our complaints about the challenges to the necessary authorities but we are yet to get positive feedback.
“Though we thank God that the present administration has awarded a contract to a Chinese company “CGC” and it is very obvious that some pipes are clearly visible by the road side, which has continued to keep the hopes of our people alive.
“But i still want to call on the general public and the government to please come to our aid, most especially in this trying times of the holy month of ramadan, because we all know that water is life, and lack of water has been an unending challenge for the people of Akko amada community,” he added.
