SOKOTO, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 – Sokoto State Water Board on Thursday attributed current acute water scarcity in Sokoto and environs to epileptic power supply.
Alhaji Moyi Tambuwal, the General Manger of the board, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Sokoto.
According to him, power supply to water plants is less than the minimum nine hours required to sustain water supply to residents.
He blamed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company for not giving priority to the board.
“We have not been getting the required power supply from the firm and it is affecting our operations.
“We need an average power supply of between nine to ten hours daily to produce water maximally.
“We are not getting the supply from the company, hence, we have been augmenting the supply with our generators,” he added.
The general manager appealed to the residents to be patient pending when the situation improves.
In its reaction, the electricity firm attributed the problem to “system collapse” from Kainji power station, which occurred last Tuesday.
“There was no power supply in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States for 24 hours on that day.
“However, normal power supply had been restored and the situation would soon improve,” the company’s spokesman in Sokoto, Umar Tambuwal said.
The water scarcity has led to about 70 percent increase in the price of kegs of water obtained from vendors.
A 25 litre container of water which used to cost N20 is now being sold for between N30 to N50 in the city, depending on the distance.
