Residents of Commissioners’ Quarters in Damaturu, Yobe State, have bemoaned worsening water scarcity in one of the capital’s prominent residential areas.

They said the shortage followed the breakdown of a generator powering a major public borehole serving the area, where top government officials, security chiefs, and political office holders reside.

A community elder, Malam Abdul, said residents have become increasingly frustrated over the persistent water shortage.

“A lot of residents were angry and wanted to protest over the situation, but we calmed them down and promised to channel their complaints appropriately,” he said.

He added that some wealthy residents now allow neighbours to fetch water from their private boreholes, helping to ease the hardship.

Another resident, Malam Baba Karami, said complaints had previously been lodged with water authorities over the situation and the need to increase its operational hours due to the area’s growing population.

According to him, the ageing generator had suffered frequent engine oil shortages and mechanical faults for years.

“Sometimes, some residents volunteered to buy engine oil just to keep the generator running and avoid a total breakdown of the water supply,” he said.

Reacting to the development, the Director of Technical Services at the Yobe State Water Board Corporation, Hussaini Adamu, acknowledged that the agency is grappling with many challenges, including limited resources for operations.

“The corporation manages more than 100 boreholes in Damaturu and neighbouring communities,” he said, noting that maintaining the facilities with limited resources had remained difficult.

On the DA 48 borehole that supplies water to the affected area, he disclosed that a block engine and crankshaft had already been procured for the generator’s overhaul.

He added that other required components, including bearings and pistons, are available locally and will soon be installed.