Power Wahala, Bad Roads Dey Worsen Water Shortage For Lagos Communities

Residents for Ikorodu and Alapere, Lagos, dey suffer water wahala as supply dey irregular and water quality dey poor, wey don force plenty people to dey buy expensive private water to survive. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report show say power supply get direct connection to water access for dia areas, while poor water quality dey make people rely on sachet and bottled water. Even though Lagos State Government don invest plenty money for potable water, di wahala still dey. Residents dey beg government make dem provide better public water supply. John Taiwo, cinematographer for Ikorodu, talk say him water supply depend on light, “Di only wahala na when electricity no dey and my tank finish.” Taiwo dey use electric pump for all water use, and him dey treat am before drinking. Iya Ibeji, market woman, talk say she dey pay to get water for grinding and washing, but scarcity dey during power cuts or when borehole dry. Mr Idris Ayeni, teacher, don install borehole for him house wey solve him wahala and him no dey buy sachet water again.

For Alapere, wahala worse as water quality bad pass. Mrs Olaoti Omowunmi, banker, talk say water for her compound dey very bad, she dey buy 10 gallons from community borehole for ₦2,500 to last three-four days, and she dey rely on sachet water for drinking. Mr Femi Ogungbe, businessman, confirm say water mix with soil, so e dey safer to buy water. Some residents like Mrs Janet Adeola get reliable borehole wey dey clean for all household use, but she never test am. For Alapere market, trader dey buy two 25-litre kegs daily at ₦250 per keg for business. Overall, water scarcity remain big problem for Ikorodu and Alapere, worsened by power cuts and dry-season well depletion, wey don make boreholes and purchased water di main source, while sachet water still di main drinking option.