A water expert, Aliyu Abubakar, has called on FCT minister Nyesom Wike to address the imminent water supply shortage being experienced by residents to avert scarcity.

Mr Abubakar, who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, said some challenges facing the FCT Water Board mainly concern the water treatment plant.

According to him, this is at risk of shutting down due to a shortage of chemicals needed to treat the raw water supplied from Gurara to Lower Usuma Dam, located in Ushafa, Bwari area council.

He said the actual non-transfer of raw water from the Gurara Dam, which had hitherto been done monthly, has dwindled to once a year.

“Since October 2025, there has been no transfer of potable water, therefore in terms of volume of water, the dam is currently operating at half its capacity,” said Mr Abubakar. “Another tragedy is that water from the Lower Usuma Dam that is meant for the water treatment plants, which are integral to the production and distribution of potable water across Abuja and its environs, is currently being diverted by SCC Nigeria Limited, thus reducing the plants’ required capacity.”

Mr Abubakar, who also demanded regular electricity supply for the FCT Water Board, disclosed that the board had been powering its turbines at the Lower Usuma Dam with two diesel-powered generators.

“These generators cannot effectively power the turbines, one of which has already packed up, thus reducing the production of potable water to less than 40 per cent presently,” added Mr Abubakar.

The expert therefore appealed to the FCT minister to address the problem since water supply is an important part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and adequate water supply is as essential as good roads.

(NAN)