Abuja: Residents of Wuse Zone Six in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT have raised alarm over alleged contaminated water running from their taps. Complaints over polluted water in the Wuse Zone Six axis of AMAC have intensified in recent weeks, with several residents reporting similar experiences of unsafe water supply.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a resident, Mr. Jimoh Olatunji, reported that he and his daughter fell ill after consuming tap water. “After drinking the water with my daughter, we both had running stomachs for days and had to visit the hospital for treatment,” Olatunji said. Another resident, Mr. Uche Uchechukwu, described the water as unfit for basic domestic use, noting, “Once we open the taps, black and red worms come out with a faecal smell. The water cannot be used for cooking, bathing or washing.”
Chairman of the Wuse Zone Six Residents Association, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, expressed displeasure over the issue and committed to addressing the matter with the FCT Water Board. He assured residents that he would visit the Board to seek a resolution.
In response, the General Manager of the FCT Water Board, Mr. Daniel Salka, stated that the Board supplies clean potable water across the city and identified the Wuse Zone Six case as a localised problem. Salka explained that some homes had sewer lines close to their taps, which could lead to contamination, and emphasized that the Board’s supply remained clean. He advised residents to consult professionals to address internal issues with their water systems.
Salka also noted that no recent complaints had been reported to him, although he pledged to send a team to inspect the site. He urged residents to refrain from drinking the water until further inspection.
NAN reports that water pollution is a significant environmental and health challenge in Nigeria, with official data indicating that 41% of public water supplies are contaminated with faecal matter. The problem is exacerbated by contamination at the source and point of consumption, affecting 68% and 70% of water supplies, respectively. Environmental threats such as oil spills and toxic metals further compound the crisis.
In response to these challenges, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has established National Water Quality Reference Laboratories and introduced regulations through NESREA and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency. Additionally, a $1 billion Ogoniland clean-up initiative seeks to restore polluted land and water. The government also plans to ban single-use plastics nationwide by 2025 to reduce plastic pollution.
Experts emphasize the importance of enforcement, funding, and inter-agency coordination to protect water resources and ensure safe water supply for Nigerians.