Abuja: Bekwarra, a local government area in Cross River State, is grappling with a persistent lack of access to clean and potable water, despite being surrounded by lush rainforests and rivers. Residents of this agriculturally rich region face a daily struggle to secure water, relying on shallow wells, murky streams, and rainwater collection for survival.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the water scarcity issue has deeply affected the lives of locals. Ms Lydia Johnson, a 56-year-old mother of seven from Gakem, begins her day before sunrise to fetch water. “If we do not wake up early, the stream gets crowded; sometimes we wait for over two hours,” she said. Her story is not unique, as many families in Bekwarra experience similar challenges. Children often miss school, and women endure long treks carrying heavy water containers.
Ogbago Idiku recounted an experience during her mother’s burial where the lack of water denied visitors breakfast. Despite traveling as far as Benue in search of a water tanker, she was unsuccessful. The water crisis has also led to health issues, with local centers frequently reporting cases of typhoid, cholera, and skin infections.
Promises of relief from politicians have largely gone unfulfilled. In 2016, a borehole project in Otukpru-Bekwarra failed within six months due to a broken pump that was never repaired. Similarly, a 2021 project by a Cross River House of Assembly member has yet to deliver any water to the intended communities. Experts attribute these failures to poor maintenance, inadequate budgetary allocations, and a lack of community engagement.
A report by WaterAid Nigeria highlights Cross River as having one of the lowest rural water supply coverage rates. Many water projects lack proper feasibility studies or sustainability plans, leading to abandonment after inauguration. The absence of potable water affects health, education, agriculture, and gender equality, with young girls often missing school due to water-fetching duties.
Governor Bassey Otu recently signed the Cross River Water Supply and Sanitation Law No. 5, 2025, aiming to ensure citizens’ access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Experts suggest that honest governance, committed investment, community-managed water schemes, and international partnerships are essential to addressing the crisis. However, long-term solutions must originate from strong state government resolve and responsible local leadership.
The story of Bekwarra’s water woes continues as residents hope for tangible change amidst a history of broken promises.