Inside The Abuja Community Where Residents And Animals Drink From Same Dirty Source Amid Lack Of Potable Water

The inhabitants of Shapi community, located in Gumbu ward of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have expressed their distress over the absence of clean drinking water in their locality.

In a video uploaded on X by a civic tech platform, Monitng, which was sighted by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, a woman from the community is seen fetching dirty water and putting it in her bucket.

According to her, it is the only way to survive in the community.

She added that the recent hike in the price of sachet water, popularly called ‘pure water’ had worsened her situation.

“‪This is the only water we are using to bathe, to cook. And now that pure water is expensive, one sachet is sold for N50, we manage this one,” a narrator said in the video.

“Join us in shedding light on a critical issue in the Shapi community, Gumbu ward, Kwali Area Council, FCT, Abuja. Imagine a place where both animals and residents rely on the same water source,” Monitng captioned the video.

The group continued: “Yet, this community is struggling with severe water scarcity.

“Urgent government intervention is needed to ensure the basic right to clean water for all.”

SHOCKING!!!

Dear @GovWike @IretiKingibe

Join us in shedding light on a critical issue in the Shapi community, Gumbu ward, Kwasli Area Council, FCT, Abuja. Imagine a place where both animals and residents rely on the same water source. pic.twitter.com/C5tLaYs99d

— Monitng (@monitng) March 20, 2024

In 2020, a report released by the United Nations Children's Fund and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources showed that at least one-third of Nigerians drank contaminated water while 46 million people practised open defecation.

The report, titled, "Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping 2019", obtained by SaharaReporters, pointed out that at least 167 million homes did not have access to handwashing facilities.