Water Crisis Deepens in Obeidibo as Issele-Uku Residents Struggle for Daily Supply

By Uwandulu Maryann

ISELE-UKU/Nigeria: Residents of Obeidibo community in Issele-Uku, Delta State, are grappling with an acute shortage of clean water, a situation that has disrupted daily life and heightened hardship across the area.

Early morning observations in parts of the community revealed men, women, and children moving from one location to another with buckets and yellow kegs in search of water. Long queues were seen at the few functional boreholes, with some residents lamenting that they had already spent hours waiting for their turn.

Several homes had empty containers neatly arranged outside their compounds, underscoring the urgency and routine nature of the struggle for water. For many families, every opportunity to fetch water has become critical to survival.

Residents who spoke to our correspondent said the problem had persisted for a long time and appears to be worsening. They disclosed that many wells in the area have dried up or stopped producing water entirely, forcing households to rely heavily on private water vendors.

One woman, who said she arrived at a borehole before dawn, explained that coming late often means returning home empty-handed. Others in the queue expressed frustration over the physical stress and the number of productive hours lost daily in search of water.

Water vendors were seen moving around the neighbourhood, supplying water at what residents described as exorbitant rates. A 25-litre keg, they said, now sells for between ₦150 and ₦300, depending on demand and availability. Many families admitted that while the cost is burdensome, they have little choice but to pay.

The water shortage has also begun to affect social and economic activities within the community. Some children were observed assisting their parents in fetching water during early hours, a development that could interfere with school preparation. Small-scale business owners, particularly those whose operations depend on water, expressed concern about sustaining their livelihoods amid the scarcity.

Community members are now appealing to the Delta State Government and well-meaning individuals to urgently intervene by drilling additional boreholes and repairing damaged facilities to alleviate the growing crisis.

For residents of Obeidibo, access to clean water has become more than a daily chore—it is a pressing challenge demanding immediate attention.