Residents of Mabudi in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State have taken to the streets in a fiery protest over what they describe as unbearable and long-standing water scarcity in the community.
The demonstration, which erupted on Wednesday, saw angry youths warning that they may boycott future elections if urgent action is not taken to fix the worsening water situation.
The protesters marched through Mabudi with bold inscriptions on their t-shirts reading “No Water, No Vote,” chanting slogans and demanding immediate government intervention. Many also carried placards calling for access to clean and safe drinking water, lamenting the absence of basic amenities in the area.
Speaking with The PUNCH, youth leader, Mr. Nanlir Gambo, said the protest was meant to send a clear message to government officials and political representatives at both state and national levels about the urgent need for a sustainable water supply system.
He said the community had grown frustrated with repeated promises that never translated into action.
“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 election,” Gambo stated.
He added that many residents are forced to rely on unsafe water sources, a situation he described as dangerous and unacceptable. According to him, women and children bear the heaviest burden, trekking long distances daily in search of water.
The youths, he stressed, remain united in demanding immediate and lasting government intervention.
Responding to the protest, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Mr. Butko Iliya, said the Council had already introduced temporary relief measures to ease the crisis.
He explained that Chairman, Nanfa Nbin, had been deploying water tankers since the beginning of the dry season, with at least one tanker supplied daily to each village within the area.
Iliya also noted that the Council was acting on directives from the Plateau State Government to intensify efforts toward a lasting solution.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has begun both immediate and long-term interventions to address the crisis.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Lohnan V. Gambo, led a delegation to Mabudi following an appeal to Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang by the Council Chairman.
He disclosed that a comprehensive geophysical survey has already started in Mabudi and surrounding communities as part of efforts to find a permanent solution.
Gambo assured residents that the State Government remains committed to ending the water shortage and restoring reliable access to clean water.
On behalf of the Council Chairman, the Council Secretary, Nanman Domtau, welcomed the delegation and pledged full cooperation, describing the intervention as timely.
Also speaking, the Galadima of Mabudi, Chief Ringjul Dashe, praised the government’s swift response, stressing that water remains essential to life and community survival.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Nigeria continues to face a severe water crisis, with about 179 million people lacking access to safely managed drinking water despite its abundant water resources.
As of 2026, an estimated 60–70 million Nigerians still lack basic water access, while about 114 million do not have basic sanitation, a situation linked to over 70,000 child deaths annually from diarrheal diseases.
