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APRIL 23, 2007 VOL. 21. NO 2

Benue: The Politics of Water

**Governor George Akume of Benue State**

After several years in the lurch, water returns to the front burner of public discourse in Benue State
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
iver Benue is one of the prominent features of Benue State. The river runs across several local government areas in the state. In addition to River Benue however, there are several major streams and rivulets in the state which naturally provides water to the people of the state. In simple terms, water in Benue State is in abundance, as there is no village that does not have a stream close to it. Some sum it up by contending that Benue State is situated on water while others say Benue is synonymous with water.
Even in the villages, they do not always construct very deep wells before they get water. From five to 10 feet down is usually enough to get water in its correct form. It is in very rare cases that water would not be found close to the second or third layer of the soil.
But all these water sources in various ways get contaminated and need to undergo some purification processes, without which the impure water quality could lead to the outbreak of disease particularly typhoid. Past governments in the state tried the best they could to purify public water supply before pumping it to the people.
Investigations have, however, shown that the water needs of Benue people exceed 45,000 cubits. Unfortunately, not up to 18,000 gets to the people. Even the insufficient quantity pumped to the people, the quality is often questionable. Pure water is believed not to have colour but when the quality is not there, colours are identified in the water and taste also accompanies it.
Indeed, The Source learnt that one of the major problems of water in the state is aging pipes as almost all the pipes are too old for use. The pipes, The Source gathered, were laid in the 60’s and some of them are already rusting and breaking. This, perhaps, explains why water forces out itself at certain points in the state where such breakages were experienced. Experts contend that the life-span of a pipe is between 10 to 15 years, after which replacement is expected. Unfortunately, no such replacement has even been undertaken by the various state government in almost four decades.
It is even rare to get this impure water which health workers argue is not safe for consumption. Like petroleum products, water is equally scarce in the state particularly in the urban centres. Although it may appear unbelievable but The Source has confirmed that a 20 litre jerry can of water now goes for between N30 and N40. This, The Source learnt, appears unbearable to the inhabitants of the state.
Past administrations made some efforts to overcome the problem of water scarcity in the state but not much success has been achieved. The services of a firm, BI Water was retained for Ameradu water works in Gboko local government area. This project was commissioned by late General Sani Abacha, the then Head of State in the early 90’s but it did not take long before the pipes got destroyed and the treatment point became ineffective.
Notably, while the pipes were being laid, the leadership of NKST Church, which also had interest in tapping the water faulted the pipe laying, but the state government together with the contractor disregarded the advise and did what they wanted.
The Source, which has paid several visits to the plant, can report with authority that in addition to the leakages at different points, the plant has only succeeded in occupying a space which would have been used for better purposes as the people of Gboko and its environs, for whom the project was meant to serve, are experiencing the worst of water scarcity.
Investigations, by The Source also confirmed that experts from the State’s Ministry of Water Resources and Environment have now began to question the decision of the contractor to construct a treatment point very far from the water source. The source of the Ameradu water works is River Buruku in Buruku local government area of the state but its treatment point is at Ameradu in Gboko local government. According to some experts, the distance is too long for the water to come to the treatment point.
Although officials of the Benue State Water Board argued and traced the scarcity of water in Gboko to poor distribution of pipes, it has been confirmed that poor distribution is another thing while poor work by the contractor is a different thing and uncaring attitude of the state government is also another strong point.
In Otukpo local government area particularly within the metropolis, the issue is not pleasant as everybody is experiencing the scarcity. The state claimed to have released about N45million for the Otobi water works, but nothing appears to be working in the area. The people have thus continued to travel long distances in search of drinking water.
Makurdi, which is the heartbeat of the state is not left out of the ugly situation. For the past eight years, the people are still expecting the Greater Makurdi Water Works to come on stream without luck. The project is said to be a joint one, with the Federal Government expected to bring its counterpart funding. The state government on its part has paid its N800million counterpart fund for the project. The Federal Government has continued to promise Makurdi residents that it would release its part but facts available to The Source indicate that the government was yet to release the money. This is said to have been responsible for the non-completion of the project.
Being aware of the fact that water is the major problem in the state, politicians have started to use it as a strategy to canvass for support from the electorate. It is on record that all national assembly candidates now stand boldly at campaign rallies to tell the people that they would construct boreholes for them if re-elected. Some even claim to have constructed boreholes in every part of their constituency as philanthropic gestures. The reality on the ground proves, however, that no such boreholes exist in the areas where their constituents live. From the look of things,, it has become a source of cheap popularity for those seeking election.
The Source gathered that in the villages, people go long distances to look for water. Most of such water sources are from streams which are usually dug up at the banks. A visit to such places would reveal the pathetic situations under which the people live. They form long queues in order to get drinking water from an impure source. At such instances, many of the people do not only argue, they also fight.
The Source gathered that most higher institutions in the state have at various instances demonstrated because of the dislocations occasioned by water scarcity. Students of College of Education, Oju, in Oju Local Government Area are victims of crises which erupted because of water scarcity. The management have at various instances closed down the school because of such recurring crises. The same applies to Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.
At the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, the crisis bordering on water scarcity led to the death of a fellow student. The student allegedly went to River Katsina-Ala to fetch water but unfortunately he drowned. This resulted in students’ violent demonstration where the closure of the school became the only alternative in sight.
Political observers are even of the view that politicians were deliberately toying with the problem. Indeed, many analysts contend that since they know the problem of the people, they feel that if such problems are solved they would have nothing to tell the people in their campaigns.
But water, it is said, is life which everyone irrespective of social status, needs. Where there is no water, then something is seriously wrong and since water is life, it is believed that it would be wrong to play politics with people’s lives.