From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
As Sokoto State continues to battle acute water scarcity, a philanthropist has taken it upon himself to provide relief to residents across several communities in the state capital.
The ongoing water shortage, attributed by some to irregular electricity supply affecting the operations of the state water board, has left many households struggling for access to clean water. In response, Faruku S Fada who has launched a personal initiative to distribute water to communities in desperate need.
“Sokoto metropolis is a large city with a growing population, yet we have inadequate access to water due to persistent problems with the water board. I couldn’t sit back and watch my people suffer. As a native of Sokoto, I see every resident as a brother or sister.”
So far, he has delivered nearly 40 tanker trucks of water to different communities, with plans to reach at least 50 by the end of the day. Areas that have benefitted include Kofar rini Kofar Marke, Kanwuri, Madunka, kofar taramnia, and kofar Atiku.
He said he focused on those areas because they are densely populated and vulnerable to health risks if water scarcity persists, adding that the situation has become a long-standing issue which government efforts have not provided a lasting solution to.
He urged the government to prioritize sustainable water supply systems, suggesting both large-scale borehole projects and investment in high-capacity generators to power existing water facilities.
“Water is life. Without it, you can’t achieve anything. Government must be intentional and strategic about fixing this crisis.”
S Fada has already sunk three boreholes in Sokoto and plans to construct more across both the northern and southern parts of the state, each capable of storing up to 25,000 liters of water to serve surrounding households.
Beyond water interventions, he is also planning initiatives aimed at economic empowerment. These include a women’s training program focused on local production and packaging of noodles and snacks, an initiative he says is the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“I want to start with 100 women, 50 from the Sokoto north and 50 from Sokoto south, and eventually scale up to 200. This will help them gain skills, generate income, and promote economic stability in Sokoto”