Mohammed Adamu is among many residents of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, battling water scarcity. But Adamu's case is exceptional. To keep his family alive, Adamu has to spend ₦2000 every single day from his small tea and noodle shop just to buy water from vendors popularly called Mai Ruwa.
Adamu's plight is avoidable, if not for a multi-billion-naira water project that was shut down in his community two years after its establishment.
Damaturu is an arid part of the state where acute and unhygienic water supply has led to the death of many people. In 2001, reports noted that thousands of people migrated from Damaturu to neighboring Borno State because of water scarcity.
Reports said the water crisis was fuelled by the negligent attitude of the officials of water board and the Ministry of Water Resources.
As a result, Damaturu is becoming a deserted land because of the water crisis. In fact, it was one of the reasons that made the federal government decide in 2004 to establish a mega water facility.
