Politics aside, it is time to stop deceiving ourselves—Sokoto State Government can hardly provide densely populated communities with the desired quantity of potable water. Water scarcity has been a persistent challenge confronting successive governments of the state.
To cope with this situation, households may need to resort to hand-dug wells, as seen in many states across both the North and South of Nigeria. Wealthy individuals, philanthropists, corporate bodies, and organizations should also assist by sinking boreholes in communities. This kind of support could serve as a critical supplement to government efforts.
It is important to highlight that while the state government’s water provision plans have progressed arithmetically, the population has grown geometrically. The old Sokoto Water Scheme, initiated in the late 1950s and developed through the 1960s, was originally designed to be expanded at intervals to meet the demands of a growing population. However, meaningful expansion was not undertaken until the 1980s—most notably under the administration of Colonel Ahmed Daku (rtd.)—and continued into the mid-1990s. Even then, the improvements hardly met the needs of the rapidly expanding state capital and its environs.
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Many of us can still recall how the expansion during that era brought water pipes into virtually every corner of Sokoto metropolis. The launch of the completed Sokoto water expansion project by the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, remains a vivid memory for some.
Despite these efforts, the problem of water scarcity has persisted, especially since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999. Sokoto’s urban expansion has seen the metropolis merge with neighboring towns and villages, all depending on a single main water system. As a result, no Sokoto State governor has escaped criticism over water shortages.
When Governor Attahiru Bafarawa assumed office in 1999, one of his first moves was to tackle the lack of water treatment chemicals, which had severely affected water supply at the time. As journalists then, we witnessed how he visited the Sokoto State Water Board and the Sokoto Main Water Intake on Kware Road. His administration undertook expansion, servicing, and refurbishment of these facilities. Toward the end of his tenure, additional boreholes were sunk across the state.
His successor, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who came into office in 2007, also battled the water issue. His tenure saw massive provision of boreholes and water stations, as well as the repair and replacement of major pipelines from the main water intake. These projects extended beyond the capital to various towns and villages.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who took office in 2015, also made efforts to address the problem, though they did not match the scale seen under Bafarawa and Wamakko. His administration’s widespread installation of boreholes across communities was a practical response, but still fell short of fully resolving the issue.
Providing adequate water supply to the entire Sokoto State capital and its surroundings remains a long-term goal—one that is achievable, particularly with ongoing technological advancements and a more stable security environment. But as things stand, the average Sokoto resident must continue to include the water problem among the many daily challenges they face, alongside power shortages, food insecurity, education gaps, personal safety, and healthcare.
Given the current realities, it may also be necessary to exempt public workers from water levies, especially those living in areas most affected by water scarcity. This could offer some relief and a sense of fairness.
Indeed, a stitch in time saves nine. The time to act decisively is now.
Sajo is a journalist and lecturer with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto
