Under the scorching sun, the primary concern for the residents of Afghanistan, a community in Gombe state, was obtaining clean water to quench their thirst.

This long-suffering community has struggled with severe water shortages for more than 20 years, leading to health issues caused by lack of access to clean water and limited healthcare services.

Residents have resorted to digging shallow pockets to find water, often resulting in murky and contaminated water sources.

Wakadaily learnt that, Ishaq Mohammed-Salis, 32, shared that the struggle for water has only added to the community’s hardships.
“The water in the ponds is dirty but we are left with no choice but to use them to solve our basic needs,” he highlighted.

In the meantime, Mohammed-Salis, a proprietor of a patent medicine shop in the locality, informed our reporter that many locals visit him exhibiting signs of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and typhoid. However, he noted that due to financial constraints, the only medication they can purchase is paracetamol.

“There is no water and no help has come from the state government. People are suffering here. We have over 1000 houses in this community and you can find more than 20 occupants in one house. People are suffering here. Residents here are helpless and feel abandoned.

A 2019 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation, stated that one in three individuals worldwide lacks access to safe drinking water.

The article also highlighted that the availability of contaminated water not only results in inadequate hygiene practices but also facilitates the spread of diseases like cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid.

Challenging circumstances faced by women

Upon arriving at the community, Wakadaily observed young boys and girls fetching water from the unclean ponds dug by the residents in a location known as Kwari Afghanistan, meaning Afghanistan’s River.

Maimuna Adamu, a 38-year-old woman with five children, shared that she uses the contaminated water from the pond for cooking and other household tasks as there are no other options available.

“More than 90 per cent of us residing in this area consume this water. I don’t have any choice but to use it as it is free even with its associated health risks,” she stated gloomily.

She further mentioned that, it costs so much to buy water from another community, which is quite a distance.

“A wheelbarrow of water containing six jerry cans will cost me N1000. I can’t afford it. We need help from the government,” she appealed.

Furthermore, Sadiya Mohammed, aged 35, expressed that she has no choice but to utilize the water, acknowledging its health risks.

The mother of seven shared with our reporter that even after boiling the water, her children continue to suffer from illnesses.

The head of Afghanistan village, Mustapha Yunusa-Yakubu, highlighted that 15,000 inhabitants are in critical need of water and appealed for government intervention to address the situation.

He mentioned, “This community was created over 22 years ago during the first term of Governor Danjuma Goje. Based on the 2006 census, we are over 10,000, but now, the population of this area must be over 15,000 people. Unfortunately, it’s like we don’t exist.

“We don’t have water, road and school. We urge the government or civil society organisations to come to our aid. We need to feel the dividends of democracy.”

Low Water Access in Nigeria

Water is an essential requirement for human survival; however, the accessibility of clean water is becoming increasingly scarce in various regions of the country.

The ramifications of lacking access to drinkable water are immense.

According to the World Health Organization, a daily intake of at least two litres of water is recommended for overall well-being and to prevent dehydration-related issues.

The access to clean water and proper sanitation, as emphasized in Sustainable Development Goal 6, is a basic human right, yet it remains a significant challenge for millions worldwide.

A report on the Sustainable Development Goals in 2022 highlighted that approximately 2 billion individuals do not have access to well-managed drinking water services, while around 4.2 billion lack access to safe sanitation facilities as of 2020.

The report emphasizes that the water crisis significantly impacts health, welfare, and productivity, leading to numerous deaths annually from waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid fever. Women and girls are disproportionately affected as they spend hours fetching water, exposing themselves to risks of violence and harassment due to inadequate sanitary facilities.

The World Bank estimates that 70 million Nigerians do not have access to safe drinking water, with 114 million lacking access to basic sanitation facilities.

Moreover, a WaterAid fact sheet suggests that by 2030, water scarcity could displace between 24 million to 700 million people globally, with substantial implications for Nigeria, where a considerable portion of the population already lacks access to clean water.

The scarcity of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services remains a critical issue in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas.

Outdated Water Facility

During our investigation, our reporter observed an inoperative water facility within the community, which was manually operated with an outdated hand pump. The residents disclosed that it would cost about N20,000 to repair and restore the functionality of the facility.

Regrettably, this amount was deemed excessive for a community where residents struggle to meet their basic needs.

The village head stated, “The facility operated with a hand pump was built and donated years ago by an organisation but got damaged. We can’t raise the amount of money needed to repair it.  We are struggling to see how to get money to eat. What is needed to fix the tap is N20,000 but the question is, who will provide the money?”

Official Emphasizes the Importance of Proper Procedure –

Wakadaily visited the Gombe State Community and Social Development Agency office to inquire about the actions being taken to alleviate the water shortage in the Afghanistan community.

Gender Officer Zuwaira Ahmed-Kumo stated that addressing this issue requires residents to adhere to the correct processes.

She stated, “They must have a community development association or they can come through women groups or persons with disabilities. They have to write a letter known as an expression of interest and will need to register with the local government.

“Each local government has a desk officer that serves as a mediator between CSDP and communities. The registration is not that much. Once, they register they will collect the certificate attached with the letter of expression of interest, which they can bring to us.

“Before bringing, it they should seek the support of their political leaders, or those representing them to fast-track the process. They can then come on a courtesy call to the General Manager’s office.”

In the meantime, Comfort Mukollo, the Public Relations Officer of the agency, clarified that the outlined process is crucial for expediting the necessary development.

“Already the agency has over 10,000 requests and we intervene in batches. If we say that we should adopt the first-to-come approach, they may not get it because of the urgency,” she mentioned.