Borno State Governor, Engr Babagana Umara Zulum, uncovered a clandestine operation on Thursday where vendors were exploiting the public water supply for commercial gain.
During an unannounced inspection of communities in Jere and Maiduguri Metropolis, Governor Zulum revealed that certain vendors had constructed specialized dams to obstruct the distribution network, causing artificial water shortages.
These vendors, driven by greed, according to him, were manipulating the flow of water to inflate prices and maximize profits while citizens endured the consequences.
Governor Zulum expressed dismay at the situation, stating, “It is unfortunate to notice that while the government spends millions to provide water to the people, few individuals have constructed specialized dams, most with multiple layers of reservoirs. Some of them can store more than one million litres of water.”
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With the treatment plant processing and distributing approximately 40 million litres of water daily, these criminals, as made known by the governor, were intercepting a significant portion for their own gain.
Condemning their actions, he declared that “It is unacceptable that some individuals would exploit the suffering of our people for their own selfish gains. We will not tolerate such criminal activities that jeopardize the lives of our citizens.”
Assuring swift and decisive action, Governor Zulum vowed to hold those responsible accountable, signaling a crackdown on such illicit activities that undermine the welfare of the state’s inhabitants.