In Asa, a community in Ogun State, residents face a continuous struggle to access potable water.
In an exclusive interview, community members described their dire situation, marked by a lack of boreholes and reliable wells.
The residents are forced to use murky and contaminated water for cooking, drinking, washing, and other daily needs.
Despite the saying “Water is life” and its essential role in meaningful living, the community struggles with a lack of clean water sources.
According to one of the residents, he stated that,” there is no water in our community at all, we have always drink from dirty streams and this has led to several water-borne diseases in our community.
“We have made several efforts but we don’t have the resources to provide clean water for our community.
“Some government officials came and promised to drill borehole for us, but they were unable to achieve that because they told us that there where cement there.
To make the water somewhat usable, residents introduce a substance called alum.
However, for a better water supply, the women of Asa, ogun community undertake long-distance journeys to the Republic of Benin, crossing the border to a town called Owudi.
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These journeys begin as early as 5 in the morning, leaving their children at home. The long-distance travel takes a toll on their health and exposes them to significant safety and security risks.
An investigation by PUNCH Healthwise revealed the devastating consequences of this water scarcity, including numerous deaths and severe health problems among the residents.
They face constant risk of cholera, diarrhoea, and other illnesses, as well as potential fatalities, due to the lack of a safe water source.
“Some of us used to have stomach disorders after taking it. A lot of people have died because of this lack of access to clean water, more than 5 people die daily,” said one of the residents.
The government has previously attempted to provide water to the residents of Asa, but these efforts have been unsuccessful, as shallow diggings have failed to yield any results.
The community is now calling on the government to provide industrial equipment capable of successfully drilling for water. #ogun
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