By Usman Shuaibu
The indigenes of old Chikuku community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the lingering lack of potable water, facing the people in the area.
They complained that since they settled in the community for so many years ago, they have been battling with the problem of water in the area.
Our correspondent who visited the Community observed that most of the house wives were going about, in endless search for potable water even in the rainy seasons.
The Etsu (Chief) of the community, Chief Haruna Magba, who spoke to Peoples Daily, expressed dismay that during the dry season, the residents share the river water with the animals in the area.
He said the present administration of the Council under the leadership of Ibrahim Daniel, had done nothing to provide the people with the scarce commodity (water).
Hehowever explained thatthe immediate past Chairman of the Council, Joseph Kwali Shazin, during his administration, had provided a borehole as well providedan overhead tank, but both facilities were not functioning again.
He accused the present leadership of the Council of failing to repair the borehole, constructed by his predecessor.
The monarch therefore, pleaded with the chairman to deem it necessary to build many boreholes in the community,in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Similarly, a resident, Haruna Jonathan, said that the people of the area were neglected in terms of provision of social amenities by the current government of Kwali area council.
He said despite the promise made by the council chairman to provide a transformer to boost electricity supply in the community, nothing had been done up till now.
He pointed out that the deplorable condition of the road, which links Lokoja-Gwagwalada Expressway has turned the village into a slum, especially in this period of the year.
Also, he appealed to the chairman to repair the road, to enable the farmers in the area transport their produce to urban markets for sell during the dry season.
He added, the primary healthcare centre which was built by the former chairman of the Council, late Samuel Mari Gwamnawas lacking drugs as well as enough health personnel, and called on the authorities of the council to do something about it.
“The health personnel of the healthcare Centre do not live with us in the community, so anything that happens to us in terms of sickness no medical personnel will attend to us at the night”, he said.
He called on the chairman to hurry up and complete the ongoing bridge construction in the community.
Jonathan, however, said that if the bridge was not completed early enough, the contractors handling the project would find it difficult to complete it during the heavy down pour.
He added that the people of the community would be happy with the chairman if the bridge project was finished up on time, as according to him, this is the only ongoing project in thearea.
Another resident, Mr. Moses Samuel, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved youth in the area, opined thatno meaningful project was carried out by the administration of the Council in the community.
Samuel appealed to the chairman to focus on the development of the community, so that the residents will enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Not left out, Mrs. Hajaratu Samuel and Mrs. Tawaliu Ishaya, begged the chairman to place emphasis on the provision of potable water, for the residents to ameliorate the hardships of the womenin the village, ofhaving to walk long distances in search for water.
