Knocks on EEDC, state govt as acute water scarcity hits Anambra

As electricity supply continues to decline across the five states in the South East region of Nigeria, residents of Anambra State are expressing their frustration over the hardships caused by this situation.

An investigation by DAILY POST revealed a severe water scarcity affecting all major towns in Anambra State. Public water supply is virtually nonexistent, with state water supply and public utilities offices remaining inactive over the years.

As a result, many families rely on privately owned boreholes powered by generators for their water needs. However, for almost two months now, electricity supply in most parts of Anambra has been unreliable.

While some areas experience prolonged power outages, others that receive electricity encounter low voltage insufficient to power household appliances or boreholes.

The soaring cost of fuel and gas has further exacerbated the situation, causing many commercial water vendors to suspend operations or charge exorbitant prices.

Residents, particularly those living in high-rise buildings without access to private boreholes, are facing significant challenges in accessing water. The burden of fetching water falls heavily on women and children, disrupting their daily routines and activities.

University students, such as Amara Chukwudi, expressed frustration at the inconvenience caused by the lack of electricity, resorting to using sachet water for bathing due to the inability to pump water in their hostels.

Business owners, like Oseka Ifeajuna, lamented the negative impact of power outages on their livelihoods, attributing it to the failure of the government and power distribution companies to provide reliable electricity.

Criticism was also directed towards the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), with some consumers calling for the revocation of its license due to inadequate service delivery.

In response, the EEDC attributed the poor power supply to gas constraints affecting thermal generating companies, leading to reduced energy allocation to distribution companies like EEDC.

The prevailing economic challenges, including the high exchange rate of the dollar to the naira, further complicate the situation, making it difficult to procure gas supply for power generation.

Residents expressed concern that the combination of extreme heat and power shortages could lead to dire consequences if the situation persists unchecked.