It is an established principle globally that government exists to serve the people. In other words, the soul function of any government anywhere is to cater for the socio-economic and political needs of the population where the government exists. It could not be gain-said that economic considerations or the overall well-being of the citizens of any society ranks high in the global governance index. It therefore becomes important that governments commits itself in this regard. Laxity is often met with protestations from the citizens. Even amidst these justified protestations, one is bound to pause in order to undertake a critical analysis of the problems and therefore be in a better stead to appreciate the workings of government and understand issues as they are.
The basic ingredients of democracy therefore is the right to probe the workings of government, the right to extract the commitment of such government to the economic well-being of the people and the rights of the government to explain its commitment to the people in an atmosphere devoid of rancor or intimidation. The amiable Governor of Enugu state, His Excellency Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi it must be stressed is a leader who takes his responsibility as a leader seriously and will never go to sleep when his subjects remain sleepless. The unending water crisis which reared its ugly head in late February 2021 within Enugu metropolis is one such issues giving this humility embodied personae sleepless nights. The social media was awash with footages of hapless citizens clutching water kegs and cans in search of scarce water within Enugu and environs. In the age of citizen journalism, no issues will ever remain hidden. The water scarcity in Enugu became too glaring prompting Mr. Responsiveness, the Gburu-Gburu in his characteristics manner to activate all governance mode to tackle this menace headlong.
It is important at this juncture to buttress that this water crisis did not start with the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. While not taking this assertion as a valid excuse since government is a continuum and must strive at all times to serve and satisfy the yearnings of the people, it is important also to do a brief appreciation of the common causes of ground water depletion.
Even in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja where I reside, citizens moaned for the greater part of the month of March owing to the scarcity of fresh water. I have then wondered if a new capital city of Nigeria could experience water shortage even with all the federal might and resources in place and not excluding underlying rocks and the high topography, a basic gift of nature then it must be truly challenging to states like Enugu which has a much lower topography in comparison.
Experts have repeatedly warned that the ozone layer is in grave danger owing to the continual emissions of greenhouse into the atmosphere. Therefore intense global warming is not conducive for the retainment of underground water.
Scholars are also agreed that groundwater depletion most commonly occurs because of the frequent pumping of water from the ground. Ground water are pumped more quickly than it can renew itself, leading to a dangerous shortage in the groundwater supply.
As population continues to grow in geometrical progression as foretold by the Economists, so also the more need for water which is pumped from the ground at a rapid rate and therefore makes it ultimately more difficult for the groundwater to provide us with the amount of water that we need.
Furthermore by continuously pumping groundwater from aquifers, experts are agreed also that it does not have enough time to replenish itself. Water flows freely through the saturated rocks known as aquifers. There are large and small aquifers, and they are the underground water reserves that absorb water and hold it, enabling us to pump it for use.
The amount of water that aquifers hold is beyond impressive and can provide us with billions of gallons of water per day. While this amount of water seems plentiful, groundwater is a major contributor to the Earth’s freshwater supply and is responsible for providing up to 40% of freshwater in the world. Therefore, it doesn’t have the ability to recollect quickly enough to be continually sourced for our use.
I’d like to sum up that groundwater depletion has far more reaching implications on the resources of government as more resources will be deployed to reach further into the ground in search of fresh water and our topography have not been too helpful. Even in the midst of these findings, Governor Ugwuanyi is increasingly asserting his managerial skills. Interestingly, he believes that his best is not best enough until the best is bettered. This actually informed his decision to declare emergency in the water sector by advertising for best brains to come beef up and complement another egg head just employed in the month of March in the person of a renowned Engineer, Engr. Onyeka Martins Okwor as the MD, state water corporation.
Enugu is truly in the hands of God.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS..Gov Ugwuanyi have three precious things, The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, Gov Ugwuanyi.. u are a leader among equals.”
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
Public Affairs Commentator.
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
