Bulmun Dakwal

Despite the allocation of funds for the construction of a solar powered water borehole, the people of Aningo community are still battling with water scarcity and spending money to get access to basic necessity like water for their day to day activities.

Aningo, a community in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State, has been grappling with a severe water crisis for several years. Over eight years ago, the Plateau State Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) constructed a borehole in the area, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the facility soon became faulty. Although military officers stationed in the community managed to repair it, the borehole later broke down again. Despite numerous attempts by residents to address the problem, water scarcity has persisted and sadly become a way of life for the people of Aningo.

People in this community have to spend money from the little they earn as peasant farmers and local business men and women on a daily on basic necessity like water, which the government is responsible for providing to the people.

In Aningo today, a community that is densely populated, there are only two boreholes in existence and both are privately owned. Residents are forced to either buy water from the private owned boreholes and go through the long queue and hassle of getting water on time for their needs or pay the sum of one hundred Naira per keg to informal water sellers, popularly known as Abokis.

Ladi Adamu, a resident in the community and a mother of ten children spoke to SecretsReporters on the daily routine to access clean water for her and her family.

“We usually walk down to Ashara in order to get water that comes out from the rock. We have to walk for over an hour just to get water and during the dry season we have to buy water from those who bring in kegs for sale and per keg it cost 100 Naira, I have ten children and in a day we consume more than five kegs,” she explained.

Speaking further on her struggle with her family, Ladi harped on how it’s not always easy getting the money to purchase water to be consumed by her and her children.

“Look at me, I’m just a farmer with no stable business. Sometimes, when we go to the borehole in the community, we have to plead to get water on credit. This has been our daily struggle for years, we’ve already given up on the government coming to our aid because of the constant empty promises,” she added.

In Aningo, children’s lives are constantly at risk while on the way to get water at Ashara, for their homes. For those who go to school, it takes a longer time to get to school because they have to walk for over an hour in order to get water for their homes or join the long que at the borehole to get water before heading to school.

Despite the numerous promises by political aspirants to the people in the community over the years, the community has gotten tired of such empty promises. They have given up on government intervention and have been forced to adapt and survive the costly and strenuous style of getting water.

“We don’t have any solar powered borehole here in Aningo, the only two boreholes we have here are owned by private individuals who God has helped and are able to bring this development to help our people,” the community head, Musa Abiniku said.

Speaking to the youth leader, Sunday David, expressed disappointed in the constant failed promises from their political leaders

“We have their contacts and we do call them but its different excuses whenever we call, you know how these politicians are,” he said

Also speaking on their efforts as youths in the community, he explained how the youths, the youth executives and community head, have made several efforts like contributing money to get the borehole fixed but it kept on collapsing.

Health Impact Of Water Scarcity

Water scarcity carries a very heavy impact on human lives, especially children. According to UNICEF, 73% of diarrheal diseases in Nigeria are linked to poor water, sanitation and hygiene, which contributes to over seventy thousand children’s death annually who are under age five.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately sixty million people in Nigeria lack access to safe drinking water, with most of them residing in rural areas. In rural areas, 39% of households lack access to at least basic water supply. Inadequate access to clean water can lead to various water borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, which can be life threatening especially for vulnerable groups like, children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Budgetary Allocation

In 2019, the sum of nine million, three hundred and seventy four thousand, six hundred and seventy eight naira, fifty seven kobo (9,374,678.57) was allocated for the construction of a solar powered borehole in Aningo, to the Federal Ministry of Power, with the contract awarded to TENUP Nigeria Limited.

Despite the allocation of such huge amount of money for the construction of a borehole that would have helped ease the sufferings of the people in this community, none of such exists. The government has once again failed its people, with no borehole in sight for the people of Aningo and just constant empty promises from their political leader.

Inactive Yet Contracted

Further research on TENUP Nigeria Limited has showed that the company is currently inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) register. TENUP NIGERIA LIMITED was incorporated in Enugu, Nigeria with Registration Number 298513. It was registered on 21 Aug 1996 in Enugu State.
The company’s directors are Animba John E., Animba Adonnis E., Animba Blessing C. and Animba Chinaenye E.