Water scarcity and cholera outbreak have hit Ebonyi State despite billions of naira appropriated yearly to build mega water projects in some towns.
The last administration spent billions of naira on a water station in Oferekpe to ensure supply, but the problem remains.
Before now, Abakaliki was affected by guinea worm, a disease health professionals said is caused mostly by a lack of drinking water.
Water projects
The biggest mega water station built by the former Anambra State government is located in Ezillo to supply water to Abakaliki.
Former Governor Martin Elechi made water supply a priority, and the government embarked on the construction of two mega water stations in Oferekpe and Ukawu to ensure every home had enough supply.
The project in Oferekpe, for which the government took a bond, has not been completed. No serious work has begun at the Ukawu site.
With high expectation that the two water schemes would soon be completed, the government paid less attention to the one in Ezillo, the main source of supply to Abakaliki and its environs.
Risky sources
Residents of the city depend on well water, tankers, and sachet water, increasing the cost of getting water. Young children who should be in school search the streets for water.
Cholera has claimed many lives with more cases being treated in hospitals and herbal homes in remote communities.
Rural dwellers who fetch water from ponds, and the worst situation is in Izzia where villagers share the same pond water with grazing animals.
Cholera outbreak in Ngbo, Okposi
Cholera outbreak has been reported in Ngbo and Okposi as well as in remote communities where cases are unreported.
One man whose child came down with the disease while they were in the village for a ceremony said most of the victims lack knowledge of the symptoms and it gets bad before they seek medical attention.
Some people blamed public health officials for the failure to sufficiently enlighten rural dwellers on the nature and operation of cholera. Others blamed the government for not ensuring the original source of water supply in Ezillo functions.
Plea to Umahi
Residents urged Governor Dave Umahi to restore Ezillo to its full capacity to save them from water borne diseases.
Analysts said the Oferekpe water scheme is a test for the new administration as the people expect its completion in earnest.
They said water supply is a huge task for the administration of Umahi, who was part of the Elechi government as Deputy Governor, alerting that there will likely be another round of challenges about portable water and health risks.
Director of Public Health, Chris Achi, lamented the deaths and advised rural dwellers to take any person who is ill to the hospital as quickly as possible.
He expressed regret that rural dwellers fail to heed several warnings from the Health Ministry about cholera.
He warned the people not to travel to cholera endemic zones to avoid falling victim.
