Residents of the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja have received relief following the restoration of water supply through an intervention sponsored by Segun Showunmi, founder of the Alternative Movement.
The intervention comes after the breakdown of boreholes left thousands of displaced residents struggling to access water for drinking, cooking, sanitation and other daily needs.
The camp reportedly accommodates more than 5,000 internally displaced persons and relies heavily on boreholes for its water supply. The malfunctioning facilities had forced residents to depend on streams, raising concerns about access to safe water and the risk of waterborne diseases.
The water restoration project, initiated by the Civitas Auxilium Foundation, was sponsored by, Otunba Segun Showunmi, who visited the camp to commission the intervention.
The project includes a solar-powered borehole designed to provide a more sustainable water source for residents, particularly amid challenges associated with unreliable electricity supply.
The intervention is expected to reduce the burden on women and children who previously had to travel to streams to fetch water for household use.
Beyond the water project, Showunmi called for greater government support for the displaced persons, urging residents not to lose hope in government assistance.
He pledged to raise their concerns with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and officials at the Presidency. He also appealed to the Borno State Government to support the residents, noting that many of them are indigenes of the state.
Showunmi further made cash donations to residents and pledged to sustain his humanitarian support for the camp.
The Alternative Movement has previously supported interventions at the facility, including a medical outreach programme aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of displaced residents.
While the restoration of water supply offers immediate relief, the situation at Wassa highlights the challenges facing displaced communities that lack reliable access to essential public services.
Sustaining access to safe water will require regular maintenance of existing facilities, alongside coordinated interventions by government authorities, humanitarian organisations and private donors.
For residents of the Wassa IDP camp, reliable water infrastructure remains essential to public health, dignity and daily survival, particularly as they continue to cope with the challenges of displacement.
