Sachet water producers, block moulders, car wash and commercial toilets owners are facing harsh business fluctuation, as Sokoto State Water Board disconnected their supply.

The disconnection which commenced at various parts of the state is being conducted by a combined team of water board staff and security operatives.

The team disconnected water supply to business outlets including residential buildings with enlarged water storage systems for reasons best known to the authorities.

Checks at different places showed that the activity might not be unconnected with the persistent water scarcity that hit Sokoto metropolis and its environs forcing residents to fetch water at any available source.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday, Chairman, Block Moulders Association, Sokoto State branch, Kabiru Rumbukawa, said a team of operatives went round to cut-off water supply to business premises belonging to his members.

Mr Rumbukawa said the exercise jeopardised their operations and halted production, stressing that his members bought cement at N6,500 per bag but the disconnection ruined their job.

He explained that most of his members depended solely on the water board for water supply as only few of them could afford boreholes.

The chairman said the association had over 350 members employing at least 10 persons in each factory every day for block production, apart from creating indirect employment to many people such as transporters, food vendors and water sellers among other services.

The chairman said when the team disconnected his premises from the water supply, he demanded an explanation, “because, I, alongside other members, pay for the services promptly to avoid any embarrassment but why the disconnection.”

He said the team leader simply told him that it was an order from a higher authority, adding that the situation affected many peoples’ livelihoods especially those who depended on it for production.

Also during an interview, the owner of Garka Table Water and Chairman, Sachet Water Producers in the state, Nasiru Garka, expressed dismay over the exercise, saying it crippled their businesses.

Mr Garka said over 400 registered companies produced sachet water in Sokoto, employing between 20 and 50 persons in each factory.

He said apart from the government, their services were second to none in terms of employment generation in the state and “we pay the statutory revenue into government coffers.

“In view of the fact that our services require both skilled and unskilled labour, we accommodate unemployable persons in society in sachet water production business,” he said.

According to him, none of his members has prior information on the disconnection which began on Friday, assuring that the association planned to organise the union executives to approach water board management to find out reasons behind the action.

“Sachet water production is for public consumption, the producers purify the water for public consumption, thereby contributing to the healthy wellbeing of society,” he said.

Some car wash and commercial toilets owners also lamented over the disconnection, which they said affected their daily income.

Dahiru Garba and Umar Namaradun said they were not informed of any faults or sanction for non-payment of statutory levies before the disconnection.

Taps have dried up and residents were seen scampering to source for water wherever available, while the government sometimes resorted to supplying water tankers to cushion the effect of the hard situation.

It was noticed that in the metropolis water vendors sell a 20-litre jerry can for between N120 and N140 each.

Some of the water vendors interviewed said that they buy water from commercial borehole owners while the epileptic power supply forced the price of 14 jerrycan to N400.

The vendors complained that they fetched water from long distances from commercial borehole owners.

Contacted, the General Manager of Sokoto State Water Board, Sama’ila Umar, said the disconnection was a plan to ensure access to safe water supply for domestic consumption first, “then water for commercial or industrial purposes in the state can follow later.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Yusuf Maccido, said he was not aware of the disconnection. 

(NAN)