As the dry season tightens its grip, residents of Tanke Bubu, a community in Ilorin, Kwara State, are grappling with a worsening water crisis that has left them depending on sachet water—commonly known as “pure water”—for essential daily activities like cooking and bathing.
Wells have dried up, and functional boreholes are non-existent in the area, forcing many to wake as early as 3:30 a.m. to trek long distances in search of water. The struggle for clean water has pushed the community into a desperate state.
Shukurah Ibirogba, a resident, described the exhaustion of waking before dawn to fetch water. “We’re left with no choice. The available water sources are few and far between,” she said.
Students living in the area are also severely impacted. Olabisi Boluwatife, a University of Ilorin student, recounted how she had to cook with sachet water after an unsuccessful search for clean water. “It’s both physically and mentally draining. Managing school and basic needs without water is a nightmare,” she said.
Another student from Oyo State shared her ordeal, saying she often resorts to using water from multiple sources, which has led to skin reactions and health concerns.
For small business owners like Mrs. Omolayo Oke, the situation is equally dire. She noted that many families now depend on commercial water vendors whose services are unaffordable to most, especially in a struggling economy.
Residents continue to call on authorities to urgently intervene and provide sustainable water solutions as the crisis shows no sign of abating. With no pipe-borne or borehole water and rising demand, the reliance on sachet water highlights the critical need for improved water infrastructure in the area.
