Abuja On The Brink: Wike Reveals Why Residents Are Facing A Water Nightmare

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has attributed the current water shortage in Abuja to ongoing rehabilitation works on two major water treatment plants serving the city.

In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister noted that only two of the four water treatment plants are currently operational, as Phases 1 and 2 have been temporarily shut down for upgrades.

Appealing for patience and cooperation from residents, Wike explained that water supply will be rationed over the next two weeks while the repair work progresses. The rehabilitation aims to improve long-term water delivery across Abuja and surrounding areas.

To ease the situation during the upcoming Salah celebration, Wike assured that the two plants under rehabilitation will be temporarily reactivated to increase water supply during the festive period.

“The FCT Water Board operates four water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 30,000m³/hour, spread across Phases 1 to 4,” Wike said.

“Due to inefficiencies and declining performance, the FCT Administration awarded a rehabilitation contract to SCC Nigeria Limited. The work is currently in advanced stages on Phases 1 and 2, where outdated electro-mechanical equipment is being replaced.”

He clarified that the shutdown of the two interconnected plants is necessary for these upgrades, while Phases 3 and 4 remain operational. However, these are insufficient to meet the total water demand of the FCT, hence the ongoing disruptions.

Wike emphasized that the shortage is not due to a complete shutdown but rather a partial interruption in supply.

He added that SCC is working round-the-clock to complete the repairs ahead of schedule.

“To reduce the impact on residents, the Water Board has implemented a rationing schedule, alternating between Lines 1 and 2 of the distribution network,” Wike said, urging residents to store adequate water for daily use during this period.