As another Yuletide season approaches, residents of Obianime-Ama in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State are saddened that they may again not share in the joys of the festive period due to the plight of water scarcity.

Some of them who spoke with this virtual news medium on Sunday, December 17, 2023 when Kristina Reports visited their community lamented that the situation has assumed an alarming proportion as they have lost count of the number of years they have been suffering.

One of the residents, who preferred not to disclose her identity said “I no be Okrika woman, na Akwa Ibom woman I be. I no fit remember the last time water rush for my backyard wey we get tap. Every day, na so me and my children go carry bucket dey find water”.

A minor, who simply identified himself as Bobo told Kristina Reports that the situation has affected his academics so much that he cannot find strength to study his books as he ought to which had reduced his productivity in school.

“As a student and a child under my parents, I can’t just sit and watch my mother carrying a bucket to fetch water, so every morning I fetch water before going to school, and because of the long queue, I’ll have to wait till it’s my turn.”

“This makes me go late and most times I miss lessons in school. After school, the time I am supposed to study, I still use it to fetch water till nightfall. Tell me how I will meet up with studying after getting exhausted”.

The residents also related to Kristina Reports that as a result of this, they walk long distances to neighbouring communities to get water.

Speaking also, a youth, who also pleaded anonymity, related to Kristina Reports that the situation is as a result of the electricity supply situation in the area, saying that only those with generators have water as they use it to pump water for community members.

“Na only people wey get generator nai dey help us sometimes and that one na if fuel dey o, because no light. If not na Orupabo-Ama and Ogan-Ama nai we dey go fetch water. All these hotels nai dey help our lives because they get tap outside.”

“Sometimes na Caro market for daka ama nai we dey find water. If no be all these hausa boys Dem wey we dey buy water from. Just imagine, a truck of water to fill your house na 1200. Na so we dey spend money.”

Some of the authorities of the community who spoke with Kristina Reports, albeit off the records, expressed how tiring the situation is.

“We are tired, we have tried all we can. Some of the illustrious sons of the land have refused to come to our aid. We have been begging and pleading all to no avail.”