TOTAL BLACKOUT IN OMAGBA TRIGGERS SHARP RISE IN WATER PRICES. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

 Total Blackout in Omagba Triggers Sharp Rise in Water Prices

By Uchechukwu Muolokwu

A total power outage in Omagba since April 30, 2026, has left residents struggling to access water, with prices doubling across the community.

The blackout has disrupted borehole operations, which many households depend on for daily supply. With electricity unavailable, borehole owners now rely on fuel and diesel to pump water, pushing costs higher for consumers.

Mr. Sylvester Nnabuike, a landlord and resident, said he uses electricity exclusively to run his borehole.  

“Now that there is no power, I cannot afford to buy fuel because the price is too high. It will cost me a lot,” he said. Nnabuike urged relevant authorities to intervene urgently.

Mrs. Nnoyelum Chika, another resident, said the cost of a gallon of water has risen from ₦50 to between ₦100 and ₦150.  

“I now spend almost ₦1,000 to ₦1,500 daily on water instead of ₦500,” she said. “Government should do something, at least by giving access to free water in Omagba.”

She noted that government-provided taps were once common in the 1980s and 1990s, and called for the restoration of public water supply systems.

Most borehole owners in Omagba use diesel, which is also costly, forcing many residents to trek from one borehole to another in search of affordable water.