Water Scarcity Plagues Lokoja, Kogi State, Drawing Concerns from Residents

• Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, faces a severe shortage of drinking water, forcing residents to traverse the city in search of potable water
• Increased demand for water from local borehole operators leads to a surge in prices, prompting residents to appeal for government intervention

Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, is grappling with a severe shortage of potable water, leaving residents distressed. Reports indicate that inhabitants are traversing different parts of the city searching for drinking water, resulting in increased demand for local borehole water providers.

Residents are now putting pressure on owners and operators of boreholes in their neighbourhoods to secure water for their families. Unfortunately, this surge in demand has led to a spike in the price per litre of water from many borehole operators.

Notably affected areas in the metropolis include Gadumo, Ganaja, Phase 1 and 2 Lokogoma Housing Estate, and adjoining settlements. The situation is particularly distressing as the Yuletide season approaches, prompting residents to appeal to the Kogi State Government for urgent intervention and a lasting solution to the persistent water scarcity challenge.

Expressing their concerns, residents highlight the irony of the shortage in Lokoja, a city strategically positioned at the confluence of two major rivers. Yunusa Ibrahim, a resident of Ganaja-Lokoja, expressed dismay, stating, “The drinking water shortage in Lokoja is an embarrassment.”

Two weeks ago, the General Manager of the Kogi State Water Board, Engineer Mohammed Sagir, had appealed to the residents of Gadumo to remain patient amidst the challenge. He attributed the water scarcity in Lokoja to a voltage drop in power supply, assuring residents that efforts were underway to address the issue.

However, as the problem persists, residents are left in a precarious situation, calling on the state government to take decisive action and end the recurrent drinking water scarcity in Lokoja. Despite efforts to contact Engineer Mohammed Sagir for comments on the current situation, he could not be reached when filing this report.