Water Scarcity: The imperative of collective action in Yobe, by Mohammed Aliyu
A piece of news which many will term as insignificant has been generating interest in faraway Yobe State for about two weeks now.
It was an information requesting or rather urging representatives of communities without access to portable water in the state to come forward and be provided same.
The information which was earlier posted on the Facebook wall of the originator, Kashim Musa Tumsah, one of the state’s stakeholders, went viral and trended with even some major national dailies publishing it on their news pages.
READ ALSO: Yobe philanthropist, Tumsah plans more water projects for communities
One needs not to herald a guess that at the core of the highly impactful message and the consequent overwhelming interest is the integral role water plays in every life as one of the essential and basic necessities.
“Water is life” is the popular dictum that has existed for as long as life itself. As important as it is to human existence however, it is sad that water has become the scarcest commodity in our clime with women and children trekking several kilometers in search of it while endangering their lives in the process.
More disturbing is the fact that what they get at the end of this rigorous and exhaustive expedition is hardly fit for human consumption thereby triggering many life-threatening health challenges in communities where access to medicare is also a mirage. This is an unalienable fact most communities across the country have to live with.
In the far North, it is a different ballgame entirely. There are hardly any natural water sources anywhere without desert encroachment taking greater portion of what is left of the hitherto large expanse of land that has always been the pride of the region.
READ ALSO: Kashim Musa Tumsah’s water project receives commendations from Geidam residents
In Yobe and its mother state of Borno, the situation is apparently more dire and often triggers humanitarian crisis of immense proportion.
A 2022 assessment by REACH —a humanitarian initiative that provides data on crisis and displacement reported by a popular online newspaper, HumAngle, showed how water scarcity that year forced locals from their rural homes on unprecedented migration to urban areas where they became refugees.
The annual prevalence and severity of dry seasons, and its accompanying drought-like circumstances, often trigger some level of migration as a coping mechanism, the report said.
This is the kind of situation rural Yobeans faced especially during the dry season when water from the hand dug wells and that of the ponds from the wet season run dry. With the severity of the situation and a population projection of 3,649,600 as at 2022, a growth rate of 3.2 percent, it will be well near impossible for the government alone to meet the basic amenities needs of the populace including clean water.
READ ALSO: Kashim Musa Tumsah sponsors intensive JAMB tutorial for students in Yobe (Pictures)
That is the more reason why the efforts by the originator of the recent information to provide solar-powered boreholes to rural communities in the state must be commended by all.
“In order to compliment the laudable efforts of the Governor Mai Mala Buni led Administration, and in expressing my gratitude to Almighy Allah for allowing me see another birthday. My friends and I are calling on all Yobe state citizens to take part in the next phase of our water provision to Yobe communities project.
“The water project which is a part of the Light Up Yobe Initiative is intended to provide communities in dire need of clean and potable water with Solar powered boreholes,” the report quoted Tumsah as saying.
This is no doubt an inspiring initiative with profound and far-reaching impact. This seemingly simple gesture is bound to serve as a catalyst for broader change because it will inspire others within the community to get involved and invest in local initiatives. When affluent individuals take an active role in supporting community projects, they set an example for others to follow, creating a culture of giving and engagement.
More fundamental is the move by Tumsah to involve the locals in the entire process. By so doing, he is building trust among community members and giving them a sense of ownership when the projects finally come onstream.
Quite heartwarming is the information that this is not the first time the initiator would be providing solar-powered boreholes to communities in the state. it is equally heartwarming that the proposition is part of a well thought out programme tagged the “Light Up Yobe Initiative” which include other people-centred projects aimed at complementing the effort of Governor Mai Mala Buni to improve the standard of living of the citizens of the state.
It is imperative that other public-spirited individuals with means should come forward and assist the state government to better the lives of the people. In trying to do so, it is important to understudy the Tumsah style of intervention by engaging the community members and understanding their needs.
This engagement fosters trust and collaboration, ensuring that initiatives are grounded in the realities of the community.
Mohammed Aliyu writes from Damaturu, Yobe State.
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