•FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a child drinking from public water pump
Residents of Wuse Zone Six in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have raised alarm over alleged contaminated water running from their taps, sparking growing health concerns in the community.
Mr. Jimoh Olatunji, one of the affected residents, recounted how he and his daughter fell ill after consuming the tap water, reports Daily Independent.
“After drinking the water with my daughter, we both had running stomachs for days and had to visit the hospital for treatment,” Olatunji said.
Similarly, another resident, Mr. Uche Uchechukwu, described the water as unfit for domestic use.
“Once we open the taps, black and red worms come out with a faeces smell. The water cannot be used for cooking, bathing or washing,” he lamented.
Chairman of the Wuse Zone Six Residents Association, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, expressed displeasure over the development, assuring residents that he would escalate the matter to the FCT Water Board.
“Yes, by the grace of God, Insha Allah, I will go to FCT Water Board in Area Three this coming week, from Monday till about Friday. By our next meeting, I assure you that I would have gotten to a conclusion on them, by God’s grace,” he stated.
However, the General Manager of the FCT Water Board, Mr. Daniel Salka, dismissed claims of widespread contamination, insisting that the board supplies clean, potable water across the city.
“They have sent this complaint to me before. I have sent people there twice, and they discovered that it was a localised issue. We gave advice on what is to be done,” Salka said in a telephone interview.
According to him, the contamination may be linked to sewer lines or septic tanks located too close to household water connections. He maintained that the board’s water remains safe, stressing that the case was an isolated one.
“It’s not our water. Our water is not smelling. It’s the same water we are serving to all people,” Salka insisted, while advising residents to refrain from drinking the water until proper inspection is carried out.
He added that the Water Board would send a team through the area manager to verify the situation once full details are provided.
