Residents of Sokoto and its surrounding areas are grappling with significant shortages of fuel and clean drinking water, particularly amidst scorching temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), this situation has subjected individuals to severe and uncomfortable conditions within the state. Reports from NAN indicate that numerous commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators, as well as commuters, have been compelled to suspend their activities due to the unavailability of fuel.
NAN’s correspondent, who closely monitored the situation, observed that most fuel stations were devoid of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The few stations that still had stock of the commodity were charging exorbitant prices ranging between N750 and N1,200 per liter, while street vendors were selling the product at a staggering N2,000 per liter.
Commuters such as Malam Haruna Muhammad and Jami’u Afolabi recounted to NAN that they were forced to purchase a 4-liter gallon of PMS from street vendors at a steep price of N10,000 each.
Another motorist, Abdullahi Maigidaje, shared his experience of purchasing a 4-liter gallon of PMS at N8,500 in the morning along Illela Road, only to find himself paying N10,000 for the same quantity upon his return from Gwadabawa later in the day.
Maigidaje blamed petroleum marketers for stockpiling the product, which has led to its scarcity and subsequent disruption of transportation services.
NAN’s observations revealed long queues of vehicles at a handful of filling stations across Sokoto metropolis, indicating a shortage of PMS. This scarcity has also impacted transportation fares, with the fare from Sokoto to Kware soaring to N1,300, compared to the previous rate of N500, while travelers from Sokoto to Illela now pay N4,000 instead of N2,000.
Additionally, NAN learned that interstate transportation services have been affected, with fares increasing by 50 to 70 percent compared to normal rates.
Regarding the issue of water scarcity, a diverse group of residents has urged the Sokoto state government to expedite the implementation of announced measures aimed at alleviating the severe shortage of clean drinking water plaguing the state.
NAN’s reports indicate that water taps have ceased to flow, leaving residents to seek water wherever it is available, while the government has resorted to supplying water via tankers to mitigate the situation.
A correspondent from NAN notes that water vendors are selling a 20-liter container for prices ranging between N120 and N140, lamenting that they have to travel long distances to fetch water from distant sources and commercial boreholes.
To address the crisis, Alhaji Yusuf Maccido, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, announced on April 5th that the government had established a committee to rehabilitate water systems. Maccido stated that the committee will oversee the repair of all dysfunctional water pumping engines and facilitate the dredging of 72 earth dams in the medium and long term.
The commissioner disclosed that funds had been allocated to the committee to tackle the situation, and additional water engineers and experts from Kaduna have been enlisted to support the state water board in the repair and rehabilitation of facilities.
Furthermore, Maccido mentioned that efforts are underway to repair three pumping machines in Kware to restore water supply to the Sokoto metropolis.
He expressed the government’s aspiration that within the upcoming three years, the challenge of water scarcity will be effectively resolved.
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