No free water in Lagos - It’s pay-as-you-fetch

Lagos people queing for water.

Unlike the norm in other states where those who dig deep wells offer the water free to neighbours, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare writes that to fetch water from such wells in Lagos, one must part with some naira notes.

Bolutife was on an extended visit to Lagos for the first time. She had never visited Lagos for more than two days at a stretch. But the 20-year-old was sent to the Centre of Excellence this time to assist her recently married sister who just delivered a baby.

She looked forward to having new and wonderful experiences because of the wonderful though unconfirmed account of events and tales brought home by some of her town’s people resident in Lagos when they come home for Christmas and Sallah celebrations.

She indeed experienced many things that were novel to her. The one she however finds difficult to understand is people’s attitude towards water. Bolu had gone to the nearby tap to fetch water since the tap in her sister’s flat was not running, a peculiar situation to most apartments within Lagos. When she got to the nearby tap with her containers, she had her first lesson about Lagos.

She got the first shock when the tap owner asked her for money when it was her turn to fetch. The conversation that ensued was a mini drama as people at the tap had a few laughs at her expense. After so much arguments due to her belief that the woman wanted to cheat her because she was a stranger, it dawned on her that water was not a free commodity in Lagos like it was back at home in Oyo.

She told Lagos Life that the event was a revelation. “Back home, we were made to believe that if you sell water, you can never make heaven. As a result, anyone who does not have tap or well fetches freely from those that have. I was therefore surprised that such pious-looking people, one had a mosque in her house, could sell water.

"It was embarrassing to be rudely told I was in Lagos so I should shine my eyes or go back to my village if I required free water. It was then I learnt that two buckets cost five naira while the slightly bigger paint bucket is sold at three for ten naira.”

Bolu swallowed her pride and went home for money after her entertaining welcome to Lagos by her sister’s neighbours. Alas! That was not her only lesson for the day; she came back to the tap only to have another training session from the neighbours.

Narrating her experience, she told Lagos Life that, “I actually came back with the required money and fetched my water thinking I had been indoctrinated into life in the big city, only to learn otherwise when I asked for assistance in lifting the filled bucket of water to my head. Nobody answered me and I knew I had committed another blunder; it was a young man that later helped me after telling me nobody helps you with your burden in Lagos.

“He explained that the taps were constructed tall so that anyone who wants to fetch water no matter how tall the container is can stand under it conveniently.” This was a new morsel for the young lady to digest. “It is absurd, how can I wait under the tap for that long with such a burden, I can’t still comprehend why people find it difficult to help you put your container on your head. I can’t live in this city; there is no communal spirit at all,” she concluded.

This peculiarity which made Bolu swear off Lagos is however not a big deal to some others who actually enjoy standing under the tap if not paying for the service. Mabel Azuh, a resident of Ponnle in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos told Lagos Life that it is not so terrible an experience. “I enjoy not depending on anybody with my large containers; it costs me nothing to stand under the tap till my container gets full. Initially, it was a bit difficult because I get tired quite easily and most times I get wet because I found it difficult gauging when to move away from the tap so I usually overfill my bucket.

"I am now used to it though I must confess that buying water for everyday use is quite an expensive venture that puts a drain on my pocket many times,” she said. A water vendor at Alabata Street in Egbeda Area of Lagos spoke to Lagos Life on a condition of anonymity. He said, “What is wrong in selling water? I have been doing it for long, that is how I built my two houses. Does anybody help me with PHCN bills or buy diesel for me?

“It is business, that is the only thing I can do and I enjoy it so much now that power supply is irregular in Lagos. I have less competition and I make more money because water costs more when pumped with a generating set.” He concluded that, “anyone that wants free water should dig a well and buy a pumping machine. After all, I’m not selling government water.”

Lagos Life investigations revealed that most residents in many areas of Lagos depend on the vendors for water. Anyone that needs a regular job in Lagos need not suffer again, all they need to do is dig a well, invest in a pumping machine and taps and it is time for business. For people like Bolu who had tall expectations about the Centre of Excellence, it is welcome to the reality of Lagos, where nothing comes free.



I think this is very Dangerous because Molten Lava and hot air in the ground are looking for Escape roots one of the wells may Just be one.

The Government Must STOP THIS?

@backslider

The Government Must STOP THIS?

so how do you want the people to get drining water? Even in Aso Rock; they have bore-hole!

@Babasin

You must set up Water resources immediately! Boreholes are very Dangerous! if continued

@backslider,

I think this is very Dangerous because Molten Lava and hot air in the ground are looking for Escape roots one of the wells may Just be one.

Do you know what you are talking about at all?

@TayoD

Dont even go there, some people must have read their geography books upside down if at all in school
Allow him wallow in his ignorance

Maybe I never went to school but There is a danger we Dig the ground 30feet to 40 feet Everywhere.

Common knowledge will tell anyone that immediately you drain water from the depths in the ground you are not making it safer.

Some diggers dig till reach water. I say it could be dangerous because we are exposing the Igneous layer.

MY POINT INDISCRIMINATE BORING OF HOLES THAT DEEP COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.

How do you expect people to drink water? It is not as if the government is delivering tanks of water to every citizen of Nigeria. Leave them to survive, it is not a crime for one to struggle in Nigeria. Come, Aso rock has borehole? Is this a joke?

@Ndipe

Come, Aso rock has borehole? Is this a joke?

This is no joke.

I was staying there in 2000. When NEPA strike, we switch on generator, even though there is lots of water system built by Berger. We still using Bore-Hole to supplement.

Mind you, the house is much more closer to OBJ residence compare to Atiku's own.

Compare the Portability of Open Well and Closed Well (Borehole) Water in Abakaliki Metropolis

Well water is water obtained from either a hand dug or machine drilled pit. A dug well is a larger – diameter hole that is usually more than 2 feet wide and often constructed by hand. Dug wells are usually shallow and poorly protected from surface water runoff....

http://www.scharticles.com/compare-the-portability-of-open-well-and-closed-well-borehole-water/