‘We are managing water because there is no electricity’

Residents of Bodo City in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have lamented the perennial struggle to access clean water, blaming persistent power outages, high fuel costs and environmental pollution for their worsening condition.

The residents voiced their concerns during the 2026 World Water Day celebration organised in the community by the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre. The event, themed: ‘Water and Gender’, focused on the disproportionate burden of water scarcity places on women and girls.

Community members expressed frustration that erratic electricity supply has made it difficult to pump water from available facilities.

They also raised concerns about some faulty water projects established by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

A resident, who simply identified herself as Esther, acknowledged the efforts made by HYPREP to provide potable water but stressed that more needed to be done to ensure sustainability.

She explained that several water facilities in the area are not working, adding that the absence of electricity has made water pumping nearly impossible for days at a time.

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Another resident, Nelson, described the challenges faced by villagers in accessing water and said many residents now rely on neighbours who can afford fuel to power water pumps.

Some residents also expressed concern about the pollution of nearby rivers, noting that oil exploration activities have rendered traditional water sources unsafe for domestic use.

One resident, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as terrible and stressed that the lack of electricity and polluted rivers have forced many families to ration water.

Speaking at the event, spokesperson for Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Indogesit Smart, said the celebration was brought to Bodo City to amplify the voices of women and girls who bear the greatest burden of water scarcity in rural communities.

Smart noted that many women in the community travel long distances in the early hours of the day to fetch water, exposing them to dangers such as snake bites and security risks. She added that the programme was designed to make women feel valued and to ensure their concerns reach government authorities and lawmakers.

She further emphasised that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and urged the government to listen to the concerns of affected communities.