Misau communities seek water from abandoned wells as boreholes pack-up
By David Ayodele
Yelwan Sarma and Rigar Jeji Communities in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State have celebrated the 2026 world water day with nostalgia as water failed to flow from the solar powered boreholes constructed about a year ago.
Consequently, both communities now seek for water for domestic use from their abandoned wells left opened for months after the official commissioning of the waterAid/DP-World funded project broke down.
These facts were revealed during a community voices feedback visit organised by a Bauchi-based NGO, WODASS, with support from WaterAid and DP-World to ascertain the level of functionality of the solar-powered boreholes in the communities.
Water, sanitation and hygiene committee (WASHCOM) secretary of Yelwan Sarma community, Malam Sale Sarki attributed the failure of the borehole to faulty sumo, the component that normally pumps water to the overhead tank.
He said since water could no longer be sourced from the borehole, community members had no option than to resort to fetching water from the local well, despite the risks associated with consumption of unsafe water.
“We have lodged complaints with the WASH directorates of Misau LGA immediately the borehole ceased to function in December 2025, barely 3 months of its commissioning, and we are still waiting to hear from the council,” Malam Sale Sarki added.
During a similar visit to Rigar Jeji, the WASHCOM secretary of that community Malam Yunusa Barde disclosed that the borehole developed technical problems during the fasting period this year but expressed regret that his fellow villagers and their animals have gone back to their old practice of fetching water from the abandoned wells.
“In fact, because of the knowledge we acquired on borehole management, we have started some savings, but the cost of repair is beyond our reach, so we are anxiously waiting to hear from RUWASA and Misau LGC” Yusuf Barde disclosed.
Responding to the Complaint, Misau Local Council WASH director, Malam Usman Iliya revealed that, in the case of Yelwan Sarma borehole, the contractor handling the project has not officially handed over the borehole to the council but RUWASA was already aware of the matter.
Commenting on the Rigar Jeji borehole breakdown, Usman Iliya explained that the WASH directorate will furnish the council with what is required for it’s rehabilitation assuring that the water scheme will soon be put back to use.
Meanwhile, Magaji Barde, the programme manager of WODASS, the local implementing NGO who spoke on behalf of WaterAid/ DP-World, appealed to Misau Local Council and the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) to rescue Yelwan Sarma and Rigar Jeji communities from the threat of water-borne diseases by expediting action on the borehole repairs.
