By Rakiya A.Muhammad
Rural communities in Sokoto face a deepening crisis. Every day, families watch their once-reliable wells run dry as rising temperatures scorch the land and rainfall vanishes.
A Baseline Survey Report for Sokoto 2022, which provided detailed information about the status of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services in communities, schools, health centres, and public spaces, notes the deprivation of access to these basic needs.
The survey by Green Habitat Initiative (GHI) notes that only 32.5% of Sokoto’s population has access to basic water supply, 9.6% to basic sanitation facilities, and 7.5% to basic hygiene facilities. For comparison, national averages are much higher: 68% of Nigerians have access to basic water supply, and 44% have access to basic sanitation facilities. These stark differences highlight the acute deprivation and underscore the scale and urgency of the water and sanitation crisis in Sokoto.
Dried Wells, Widespread Distress
Communal wells in Sokoto, once bustling with the laughter and chatter of daily routines, now sit abandoned—haunting reminders of the community’s mounting dread as the land grows harder and thirst grows deeper under cruel skies.
The lack of reliable water intensifies daily survival challenges, leaving communities in urgent need of support.
Mother of five, Umm Zainab, voices her anguish over the scarcity of safe water, spreading fear and hardship in rural Sokoto.
She describes the exhaustion and heartbreak of walking vast, punishing distances every day to collect what little water remains.
“Our children walk long distances on dusty, sun-exposed paths to find water,” she says
“We consistently invest significant time, effort, and resources to obtain this essential resource.”
Twelve-year-old Amina Ali starts her mornings in darkness, clutching an empty container as she braves lonely miles for her family’s survival. Each step echoes a childhood sacrificed, schoolbooks forgotten in the relentless pursuit of water.
The daily search for water significantly limits rural children’s access to education.
Absenteeism is common among children exhausted from collecting water, as meeting basic needs often takes precedence over school.
“Since the last rainy season, all our dug wells haven’t had water; they’ve dried up,” laments Mallam Maiwake Tundun Bizo of Chato ward in Wurno local government area of Sokoto.
Even when water trickles forth, fear shadows every sip. Polluted sources breed disease, turning relief into fresh anxiety—a reminder that for many, survival is never safe or simple.
Limited water and inadequate washing facilities hinder basic hygiene and increase the risk of preventable diseases.
Health facility staff report rapid increases in waterborne infections, demonstrating the strong connection between access to clean water and public health.
A common disease is cholera, which the World Health Organisation, WHO, describes as a disease of poverty affecting people with inadequate access to safe water and basic sanitation.
Sokoto was one of 24 states that reported suspected cases in a mid-year report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report shows there were 55 deaths from cholera, with 2,052 suspected cases of the disease reported in Sokoto State between January and July 2, 2023.
UN-Water describes climate change as “precisely a water crisis”, noting drought, worsening floods, rising, shrinking ice fields, and wildfires.
It notes extreme weather events make water “more scarce, more unpredictable, and more polluted.”
Thirsty Crops, Wilting Dreams
Fields that once thrived now lie barren, with failed crops reflecting the loss of hope for many families. As harvests decline, generations face increasing hardship due to persistent drought.
Farmers report significant income losses due to poor rainfall in the last season.
Fatima Yusuf, an experienced farmer, observes her groundnut and corn crops with concern as they fail to thrive, despite her years of dedicated effort. This decline highlights the increasing impact of climate change on her livelihood.
“This year, we had a shortage of rain, so our farms did not do well. Last year (2022), we got rain earlier, and it fell very well, so I had almost six bags of groundnut that time, but this year, we had a problem because the rain didn’t come as early as expected, and the rain was not much, so we had problems,” Fatima recalls.
“Instead of getting six bags or more, I only got one and a half bags of groundnuts. The corn didn’t do well, either. I used to get about five bags, but got only half a bag.”
Adaptive Innovations, Oasis in the Desert
Local communities are courageously developing adaptive solutions. These include improved household water management, donkey-drawn water carriages, and reduced water use, all of which showcase remarkable resilience amid climate-driven water challenges.
“We design catchment systems and storage facilities to maximise rainwater collection and use, “Fatima explains.
“This approach helps address water shortages during the dry season.”
International Alert, an NGO, has launched a water access initiative in the Gwadabawa local government area to address community water needs.
Country Director Paul Bemshima Nyulaku reveals they targeted Sokoto State because of its vulnerability to climate shocks, noting the need for localities to build knowledge and capacity to address these issues in a conflict-sensitive manner.
The NGO acknowledges the persistent nature of climate challenges, as climate change adaptation remains an ongoing focus, necessitating flexible strategies to address emerging issues affecting marginalised communities.
International Alert stresses capacity-building programmes tailored to the unique needs of marginalised communities, including training in water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and conflict resolution, thereby empowering individuals to actively shape their destinies.
The District Head of Gwadabawa, Rt. Hon. Lawal Zayyanu applauds the water access initiative, recognising its importance for addressing the ongoing water shortage.
He notes that most communities within his domain face the serious threat of drought and sandstorms due to desertification.
The traditional leader notes that his community faces daily water scarcity and must travel long distances to access water.
Reversing the Trend, Bringing Hope
As water scarcity intensifies in Sokoto’s rural areas, a promising solution is set to benefit communities throughout the state.
Even as the need for water echoes louder across Sokoto’s rural areas, a beacon of hope emerges. A solution with impacts across all nooks and crannies of the state is in sight.
The state government has unveiled plans for transformative solar-powered water schemes.
The project aims to turn the tide on water scarcity, bringing lasting relief and sustainable solutions to communities struggling through drought.
Engineer Muhammad AB Yusuf, Director of Water at the Sokoto Rural Water Supply Department, acknowledges the plight of the people and assures the new administration in the state, led by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, of its commitment to tackling the perennial problem.
“We have just started; this is a new government. All the plans are being prepared,” he says.
“We designed multimillion-naira solar-powered water schemes and will provide thirty for each zone.”
Beyond addressing water scarcity, the solar-powered water scheme aligns with broader environmental goals. Utilising solar energy as a power source underscores a commitment to green, sustainable solutions and minimises the ecological footprint.
The government acknowledges the need for meticulous planning to address potential technical, logistical, and community-specific challenges and ensure the scheme’s successful implementation.
A local worker, Aminu Ibrahim, is hopeful that the solar-powered water project will bring reliable water.
“With renewable energy, people can get water even when the rain is poor or wells are dry, so there will be water all year,” he says.
“The access to clean water facilitated by the scheme will reduce waterborne diseases significantly. Improved sanitation and hygiene practices, with clean water available, will contribute to a healthier populace.”
Also, a woman leader, Hajiya Amina Isa, notes that women and children, often the primary bearers of the burden of water retrieval, stand to gain the most.
“The scheme’s design aims to ease their physical and time-related constraints. It empowers them to redirect efforts towards education and other pursuits.”
Among Sokoto’s rural communities, there is a palpable sense of anticipation. The prospect of a consistent, accessible water supply has sparked hope among residents, who eagerly await the implementation of the solar-powered water scheme.
The promise of a future where clean water flows steadily through solar-powered veins brings newfound hope. Resilient rural communities in Sokoto welcome this with anticipation.
