Residents of Wuse Zone 6 in the FCT have expressed alarm over broken sewer lines, refuse build-up, and leaking water pipes across several neighbourhoods.
They warned that these issues could worsen pollution and pose serious health hazards.
Damaged pipelines and blocked drains have created stagnant pools of foul-smelling water, contaminating the environment.
The affected streets include Mabondo Street by Mbabane, Asmara Street by Glo Mast, Lusaka Street, Rabat Street near the police post, and Cotonou Crescent.
Some residents said on Tuesday that the situation had persisted for months despite repeated complaints to relevant authorities.
Mr. Chukwuma Nwafor, a resident, said the leakages had disrupted business and damaged access roads.
“Water keeps spilling onto the streets, and the smell is terrible. It is affecting businesses and putting our health at risk,” he said.
Mrs. Halima Suleiman, another resident, noted that the stagnant water had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising fears of malaria and water-borne diseases.
“We are worried about the pollution. Children play around here, and the water is clearly contaminated. The authorities should urgently fix these pipes,” she said.
Mr. Olusola Matthew, a retired civil servant, described the situation as shameful and called for stronger accountability.
“It’s such a big shame. We can’t drink or wash with the water coming out of the taps.
“The odour is unbearable. In addition to the Water Board, AEPB management ought to be on top of their responsibilities,” he said.
Matthew also appealed to residents to dispose of their refuse responsibly while waiting for government intervention.
“It takes only a little effort to help ourselves by keeping our environment clean,” he added.
He appealed to the FCT Administration to take urgent steps to repair damaged pipelines, ensure rapid response to faults, and strengthen oversight.
He said doing so would improve access to safe water and restore confidence in the city’s infrastructure management.
The FCT Water Board is responsible for water supply infrastructure, while the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) oversees sanitation.
However, Abuja continues to face water challenges linked to ageing pipelines, weak maintenance culture and rapid urbanisation.
Experts note that much of the piping network in central districts such as Wuse, Garki and Maitama was laid decades ago and has suffered repeated bursts from corrosion, pressure and overuse.
“Once these pipes break, potable water gets contaminated as sewage and solid waste seep into the lines. This poses a direct threat to health,” said Dr. Amina Danjuma, a water resources consultant.
She added that leakages also drive high levels of non-revenue water (treated water lost before reaching consumers).
“According to the FCT Water Board’s 2023 operational report, Abuja loses nearly 38 per cent of its treated water to leakages, illegal connections and poor metering.
“This is far above the global benchmark of 20 per cent set by the International Water Association,” Danjuma said.
A public health specialist, Dr. Ibrahim Oladipo of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, warned that the situation in Wuse Zone 6 could heighten the risk of cholera and diarrhoeal outbreaks.
“When potable water pipes are broken and exposed, contamination with faecal matter is highly likely. This is how cholera spreads rapidly, especially in densely populated districts,” he said.
He recalled that the FCT was among the worst affected during Nigeria’s 2021 cholera outbreak, which recorded more than 111,000 suspected cases and 3,604 deaths nationwide, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Abuja alone recorded over 800 suspected cases with more than 60 deaths in that outbreak. It shows how dangerous poor water and sanitation conditions can be,” he added.
Oladipo warned that with sporadic cholera cases still being reported in 2025, Abuja could not afford to let its urban water system deteriorate further.
Currently, Abuja produces about 210 million litres of water daily, against an estimated demand of more than 350 million litres for its population of over three million. Experts say this demand-supply gap, worsened by leakages and theft, forces many communities to depend on boreholes, vendors, and sachet water.