Is there shortage of water in Abia NYSC camp?

Some Corps members at the NYSC’s camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have complained about the shortage of water in their camp and accused the officials of the NYSC in charge of the camp for being responsible for their suffering.

According to them, the officials of NYSC at the camp in Umunna, have severally refused to pump the borehole water for them to fetch even when there is power supply. The corps members further explained that the same officials of NYSC at Umunna’s camp, bring in water in jerricans and sell to them, which is very obvious that the reason the officials of NYSC have not been regularly pumping water for them is to make them buy the water in order to make money for themselves.

I called the State Coordinator of NYSC in Abia, Mrs Ifon, to know if she is aware of the allegation, she denied the claim and maintained that she personally monitor the supply of water in the camp in question. According to her, they (NYCS Officials) pump water three times in a day to ensure the availability of water in the camp.  She said she has deposited 500, 000 naira for diesel just to ensure that anytime electricity is unavailable; there will be enough diesel to empower the generators to make the pumping of water possible.

Nevertheless, still on the same allegation, I spoke with Mrs Akuma Akpu, the Camp Director of the NYSC at Umunna. She equally denied the allegation and accused some corps members of being lazy. Mrs Akpu angrily disclosed that some of the corps members feel too big and lazy to go where the water tank is and fetch the water. “They prefer to go to the “camp market” and buy water”. She also said it is unfair of some corps members to accuse NYSC officials instead of applauding their efforts.

While speaking with the State Coordinator of NYSC on phone, she handed her phone over to a corps member, Mr Amoko Jeremiah, who equally rebuffed the claim.

Let me at this point advise the State Coordinator of NYSC in Abia and the Camp Director of NYSC at Umunna, to still look into the claim even though they have already denied, but because of the fact that there will be no smoke without fire. For some Corp Members to report this issue and still maintained their stand despite the strong defence by the State Coordinator and Camp Director, is worth investigating.

Awunah Pius Terwase,

Abuja.