Plateau State youths in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area, on Wednesday staged a protest over persistent water scarcity in the area.
They issued a warning that they may boycott future elections if the situation is not urgently addressed.
The large crowd of demonstrators marched through the town wearing T-shirts with the motto “No Water, No Vote,” screaming slogans to stress their demands.
Some of the marchers held posters calling for the rapid provision of drinkable water, while others criticized the lack of basic services in the neighborhood.
A youth leader, Mr. Nanlir Gambo, said the protest was meant to draw the attention of the government and elected officials, like their representatives in the state and National Assembly, to the urgent need for a sustainable water supply scheme in the area.
“This protest is just a sign that we are serious about our demands. We won’t allow any politician to come here and deceive us again, using our needs only to abscond after the election,” he said.
He complained that residents were forced to rely on dangerous water sources, calling the situation deplorable.
Gambo highlighted that the repeated water shortage had placed a significant hardship on households, particularly women and children who had to travel long distances in quest of water.
He highlighted that the youths were united in their demand for quick government intervention.
When asked about the matter, Mr. Butko Iliya, chief press secretary to the executive chairman of Langtang South LGA, stated that the council has already implemented interim steps to address the crisis.
According to him, Nanfa Nbin, the Council Chairman, has been distributing water via tankers since the beginning of the dry season, with at least one tanker sent to each hamlet on a daily basis.
Iliya also stated that the Plateau State government had directed the council to increase its efforts to alleviate water scarcity.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has launched both urgent and long-term initiatives to address the water crisis in the local community.
Mr. Lohnan V. Gambo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, led a high-level mission to the area in response to the council chairman’s petition to Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
Gambo, who was in Langtang South on Tuesday, said the governor had asked the ministry to take immediate action while working on long-term solutions, adding that a detailed geophysical survey had already begun in Mabudi and nearby communities.
He reassured people that the administration was dedicated to finding a permanent solution to the water problem.
The Council Secretary, Nanman Domtau, welcomed the group on behalf of the chairman and expressed gratitude for the prompt response, assuring the council’s full support.
Also addressing the Galadima of Mabudi, Chief Ringjul Dashe, highlighted water as fundamental to life and praised the government for responding quickly to the people’s predicament.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Nigeria is experiencing a serious water crisis, with an estimated 179 million people lacking access to safe drinking water despite abundant water resources.
As of 2026, approximately 60-70 million people do not have access to basic water, while 114 million lack basic sanitation. The issue kills about 70,000 children each year as a result of diarrheal infections.
