DPR Seeks Technical Advice over Contaminated Water in Niger Communities

DPR Seeks Technical Advice over Contaminated Water in Niger Communities

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Niger State has sought the technical advice from a “standard laboratory” in Kaduna over the contamination of water sources in three communities in Takogi ward in Doko area of Lavun Local Government of Niger State.

Samples of the water taken from hand dug wells, boreholes and stream were sent to the laboratory last week, it was learnt.

The action of the DPR followed complaints by the communities to the federal government agency and the Niger State Ministry of Health that some of their sources of water had been contaminated making the samples to smell of petrol.

The communities claimed that if urgent steps were not taken, the situation could result into an epidemic.

Their concern also arose from two different reports given on the situation by the Niger State Ministry of Health and the DPR.

Last week, it was gathered that the Controller of the DPR in the state, Alhaji Isah Jankara, again despatched some staff to the affected communities where they obtained fresh samples of water from various water sources.

Jankara confirmed to THISDAY that the samples had been sent to Kaduna for forensic analysis because “we don’t have facilities for such tests here”.

He said: “For now, I cannot tell you what caused the contamination of the water sources. Let us await the outcome of the test.”

The controller however could not say how long it would take for the results to be out but pleaded for patience on the part of the communities.

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