We drink water from open rivers where we defecate, and dump wastes -Burutu residents cry out

(Niger Delta focus)

By Miracle Esegha, Warri

Residents of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have narrated their ordeals for drinkable water in their communities from time immemorial.

The protesting residents had accused successful governments in the state of failing to provide a good water system for the aborigines of riverine communities in the LGA.

Speaking to a Congress News correspondent during the weekend, a community representative, Mr Sunday Powei who is an indigene of the Yayorogbene community said the community drinks water from the open river where all forms of waste are dumped.

He added that the same open River where they drink water is the same river residents defecate, and waste from oil bunkery operators are dumped.

He said, “We are suffering as riverine dwellers, oil pollution has taken over our rivers, and we are starved of water but no government from Local, State and Federal government levels want to address this problem for us.

“Our people get sick now and then because of the bad water intake and most times, our people die of unknown diseases. This kind of issue is very rampant among riverine dwellers, yet no government is making any effort to help us.

“Our political leaders, traditional rulers and stakeholders have failed us as well. They need to persuade the Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and his commissioner for water resources to declare an emergency in the water sector in the state.

“It is a pity that in this 21st century, we are still talking about the provision of good water in Riverine communities, despite Burutu being one of the highest oil-producing LGA in the state.

“I think there is a need to take a protest to the Delta State govt house and possibly shut it down, maybe in that way, we may get the government’s attention,” he asserted.