Water scarcity hits Dutse

Acute water scarcity has hit Dutse, the Jigawa state capital as taps have dried up for weeks now.

Areas most hit by the water scarcity include Jigawa State House of Assembly, Yadi, Garu, Fatara and GRA quarters, thereby leaving the residents at the mercy of water vendors who sell at exorbitant prices.

When Daily Trust visited the State assembly on Monday, taps in the toilets, mosque and most of other places were not running.

Owing to the water shortage, a cart of 10 jerry cans that used to be sold between N200 and N250 depending on the distance, is now sold at the cost of N300 to N350.

Daily Trust learnt that the perennial water scarcity crippled businesses of food vendors and pure water manufacturers in the metropolis.

A food vendor said her business suffered a setback as she hardly cooked on schedule. “I find it difficult to get water for cooking. Taps hardly run now. They dried up about two weeks ago now,” she said.

A resident of Yadi quarters, who simply identified himself as Mallam Ya’u, said water vendors had been having brisk business since the last 15 days as residents had been depending on them for their daily water supply.

Contacted, the Commissioner of Water Resources, Garba Ibrahim Hannungiwa, said he was not aware of the problem. “I have just heard about it from you (journalists) now. I don’t know about it, honestly,” he said.