Abuja (Nigeria): A pressing environmental and public health crisis is rapidly unfolding in Wuse Zone 6, one of Abuja’s central districts. Residents face hazardous living conditions, including the arbitrary disposal of waste, a widespread occurrence of broken sewer lines, and leaking water pipes.
Despite months of complaints, the situation remains unresolved, raising questions about infrastructure management and government accountability.
A District in Distress
Residents of Mabondo Street, Asmara Street, Lusaka Street, Rabat Street, and Cotonou Crescent are living a nightmare: stagnant pools of foul-smelling water, overflowing garbage, and water leakages that have severely disrupted daily life and commerce.
“Water keeps spilling onto the streets, and the smell is terrible. It is affecting businesses and putting our health at risk,” Mr. Chukwuma Nwafor, a local shop owner, lamented.
Mrs. Halima Suleiman, a mother of three, expressed concern over the health implications for children who play near contaminated water, such as skin infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and respiratory problems.
“We are worried about the pollution. Children play around here, and the water is clearly contaminated. The authorities should urgently fix these pipes.”
Health Hazards Escalate
Public health experts warn that the deteriorating infrastructure could result in outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including cholera and diarrhoea.
“When potable water pipes are broken and exposed, contamination with faecal matter is highly likely. This is how cholera spreads rapidly, especially in densely populated districts,” corroborated Dr. Ibrahim Oladipo of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital when citing the vulnerability of the district.
Speaking further, Oladipo recalled the outbreak of cholera, which claimed over 3,600 lives nationwide, including more than 60 deaths in Abuja alone in 2023.
The outbreak was blamed mainly on contaminated water sources, a problem that persists in 2025 with sporadic cases continuing to be reported, underscoring the urgency of intervention.
FCT Water Board Faces Criticism over Infrastructure Decay
The FCT Water Board, responsible for water supply infrastructure, is under fire over its inability to maintain ageing pipelines.
According to its 2023 operational report, Abuja loses nearly 38% of its treated water to leakages, illegal connections, and poor metering—roughly double the global benchmark of 20%.
Dr Amina Danjuma, water resources consultant, explained,
“Once these pipes break, potable water gets contaminated as sewage and solid waste seep into the lines. This poses a direct threat to health.”
The demand-supply gap is stark: Abuja produces about 210 million litres of water daily, far below the estimated 350 million litres required for its population of over three million. Many residents now rely on boreholes, vendors, and sachet water.
Refuse Management Crises
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), tasked with sanitation, blames informal settlements for the refuse crisis.
Osilama Braimah, Director-General, said that unplanned areas like Mabushi, Garki, Jabi, and Gwarinpa lack proper roads and waste bins, making waste collection nearly impossible.
“Residents dump waste along major roads, which we clear every two weeks at N8 million to N12 million. It’s unsustainable,” Braimah stated, adding that efforts to establish community dumping sites have hit a snag as a result of scarcity of land, thereby calling for resettlement into properly serviced areas.
Calls for Reform and Accountability
Mr. Olusola Matthew, a retired civil servant, described the situation as a ‘shameful’ lack of accountability, urging both residents and authorities to take responsibility.
“We can’t drink or wash with the water coming out of the taps. The odour is unbearable. The Water Board and AEPB must step up.”
Civil society groups and urban planners are now calling for an urgent update to the Abuja Master Plan on water and sanitation.
They argue that poor coordination between agencies exacerbates the crisis and demand investment in modern infrastructure to match the city’s rapid growth.
According to the WHO–UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, Nigeria must quadruple its sanitation coverage to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
Conclusion
The unfolding crisis in Wuse Zone 6 is a miniature of broader challenges facing Abuja’s urban infrastructure. Without swift and coordinated action, residents remain exposed to environmental degradation and preventable diseases.
The government and all major stakeholders must be proactive in combating the impending danger. It is time for a comprehensive, accountable, and forward-looking strategy to safeguard public health and restore confidence in the capital’s infrastructure.