Ogwashi-Uku Youths Impound Water Tankers Over Hike In Cost

OGWASHI-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, may be described as the desert of the Niger Delta, given the perennial water scarcity. Investigations revealed that it is an unfortunate situation, whereby the community depends entirely on commercial water tankers for domestic and all-round water supply, almost all year round.

There are no running water or potable water from any public water supply; the only water reservoir in the ancient community, which was constructed in the colonial days, is in a comatose state, while the Federally awarded Aboh-Ogwashi Water Dam Project, has died a natural death, so it is feared by the residents. The water tankers get their supply from a few expensively constructed boreholes in the town. This is because Ogwashi Uku sits on a natural hill, hence borehole construction is a herculean task. There is a deep seated natural water level, arising from this natural topography.

Hence, in Ogwashi-Uku, the commercial water tanker owners behave like vassal lords, who control the economic life of the town, through means of water, a basic need of man. 

But recently, the umbrella youth association, the Ogwashi-Uku Youth Development Association (OYDA), decided to call their bluff. The OYDA President, Comrade Chiedu Stanley, led angry youths to impound water tankers still selling water at N12, 000, as against N10,500 agreed with the youths, during a recent meeting. 

The tankers could be seen stranded at the Ogwashi-Uku Town Hall for defaulting. As at press time, there was talk about the tanker monopolists calling in the Police to get the youths to stand down on their avowed position.