Water Scarcity Hits Taraba as Power Outage Persists, Vendors Make Brisk Business

As a result, the price of a sachet of water has skyrocketed from N20.00 to N40.00, a 100% increase. According to manufacturers and sellers, the hike is attributed to the power outage, which has affected the pump price of fuel, now selling at N820 per liter in filling stations and N1000 and above per liter in the black market.

Taraba State has been plagued by a prolonged power outage, which has led to a surge in the price of water, making it a lucrative business for water vendors and dealers of sachet water. The state has been in darkness for ten days due to the alleged vandalization of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) electricity cables.

As a result, the price of a sachet of water has skyrocketed from N20.00 to N40.00, a 100% increase. According to manufacturers and sellers, the hike is attributed to the power outage, which has affected the pump price of fuel, now selling at N820 per liter in filling stations and N1000 and above per liter in the black market.

Water vendors are capitalizing on the situation, selling a truckload of water containing ten gallons of twenty liters for N750 and above. They claim the power outage has made piping water from the source cumbersome, leading to the increase in price.

Sachet water factories across the state are also feeling the impact, with production dwindling due to the power outage. Manufacturers are warning that if the situation persists, they may be forced to lay off workers. They have already increased the price of a pack of twenty sachets from N270 to N300, citing the recent fuel price hike, and may further increase it to N350.

Water vendors like Usman Abba say they are not happy about the price increase, but it is unavoidable due to the circumstances. The situation is taking a toll on the people of Taraba, who are already struggling with the hike in essential goods. The state government is urged to address the power outage and find a solution to the water scarcity to alleviate the suffering of its citizens.

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