Alhaji Hudu Bello, the Director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has attributed shortage of water supply in the nation’s capital to illegal connection by residents.
He gave the explanation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The director said that illegal tapping of water had caused inefficient supply of the commodity to the residents in some parts of the FCT.
``Illegal connection of water is one of the greatest challenges we are facing in the FCT.
``About 50 per cent of treated water, which was supposed to be domestic and industrial use are been wasted due to this action.
``If we are able to reduce the wastage, places where people lack access to water now, will get water.
The director said that the board was ready to satisfy the residents of Abuja and its environs with sufficient water supply.
He identified destruction of pipelines as another challenge hindering adequate supply of potable water in the federal capital.
According to him, the situation is causing the board to run at a loss.
``In such situation, the board is now running what we called a Non-Revenue Water System,’’ Bello said.
The director, however, hinted that the board is set to tackle the problem of illegal tapping of the piped water, through a foreign assistance.
Bello said that the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had donated some water-leakage-detecting equipment to the board.
He said that the equipment would help to reduce loss of water in the process of distribution.
When the equipment is installed, he said, there would be improvement in service delivery.
Bello also lamented that there was no functional system in place for measuring water losses and thereby reducing the revenue accruable to the board.
He said the board equally lacked equipment for maintenance operations like detecting water leakage and repairing of the pipeline networks.
Bello expressed optimism that with the equipment donated by JICA, the board would be in position to restore hope in consumers to get efficient service.
The director warned that the board would soon begin massive disconnection of water from consumers in order to recover debts owed it.
He further warned those vandalising water pipes to desist from the criminal act or should be ready to face the consequences.
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