Children in Bangem, Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region spend several hours daily hunting for potable water for their households.
The children are spotted mostly in the morning and after school, either carrying jugs of water on their head or pushing jugs of water in a wheelbarrow or truck along the street.
Speaking to The Ultimate, Ntube Lizette of Street Six Bangem lamented that some quarters in Bangem have been without water for over two years. She said life has been unbearable for their children because as parents, it’s difficult to carry jugs and roam streets in fetch of water. Ntube said only parents with cars and motorcycles actually fetch for water because they have the means.
On the 3rd and 4th of October 2023 all the taps in Bangem ran dry causing the population travel to neighbouring villages for water. A bike rider reportedly had a fractured leg in an accident on his way to Njom village in search of water.
It should be noted that on the 8th of March 2023 during the celebration of the International Women’s Day in Bangem, Bangem women joined the President of Bangem Women’s Forum, Akame Elizabeth to plead with the Mayor of Bangem Council, Ekungwe Kang Christopher to sort lasting solution to the water problem in Bangem.
Akame said their children’s performance in school have dropped because they spent time after school carrying water and they become so tired to read. She cried that if care is not taken, Bagen will record lowest performance in class and national exams in the South West Region.
Sone Nelson of Hausa Quarters Bangem regretted that since their taps went dry, the council does not communicate with the population through the local radio or town crier on the water situation in the town. He said such communication will help the population understand their water problems better and collaborate with the council for a solution.
When The Ultimate Contacted the Mayor of Bangem Council, he was not available. The Secretary General, SG of the Bangem Council, Agbor Clementine, acknowledged the fact that it is possible to have areas in Bangem that have been for long without water. She said this is because the town has grown and the need for water has increased.
According to the SG the pipes used to supply water cannot meet up with supply to the growing population leading to water shortages in some areas. She said irrespective of water scarcity in Bangem, the council is working tirelessly to ensure that water flows in all quarters in Bangem.
Agbor stated that through the efforts of their Mayor, the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM has approved a project for the revamping of potable water in Bangem.
She reiterated that the convention of the over FCFA three hundred million (300.000.000) water project in Bangem has been signed. The SG called on the population of Bangem to remain calm and collaborate with the council for the realization of this project.
By Olive Ejang
