As efforts to address the acute scarcity of water in Kano metropolis by the state government fails to produce results, Kano residents groan over hardship caused by the situation.
Residents are left at the mercy of water vendors across the metropolis as a jerrican of water sells for N150 in the city.
More so, for those who can’t afford it among the residents, they are forced to trek long distances to fetch water from boreholes own by others with philanthropic spirits in the city.
The acite water scarcity, coupled with poor power supply, has crippled social and economic activities in the ancient city of Kano.
Areas worst hit include Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Nassarawa, and Ungogo all within Kano Metropolis.
Water vendors, known as “Mai Ruwa,” have since exploited the situation and increased the prices by 200% while residents lament that they are suffering while vendors profit from the scarcity.
Millions of Naira have been budgeted by successive governments to address the acute shortage of water in the state but all to no avail.
The commissioner of Water Resources, Ali Haruna Makoda, blames the situation on obsolete equipments and high temperature, but assures that the scarcity will soon be over.
The government claims to have increased water supply from 20% to 60% and is spending N1.2 billion monthly to improve supply. A new water treatment plant is also being constructed with French government support.
Residents remain skeptical, having heard similar promises in the past that have never been fulfilled. The water scarcity in Kano has become an serious phenomenon in Kano, and the solution seem not to be achieved.